Los Rios Celebrates LGBTQ+ History Month
September 29, 2023
LGBTQ+ History Month is an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. LGBT History Month provides role models, builds community, and represents a civil rights statement about the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.
LGBTQ+ History Month originated in the United States in 1994 as Lesbian and Gay History Month. It was founded by high-school history teacher Rodney Wilson, the first openly gay public school teacher in Missouri. October was chosen by Wilson as the month for the celebration because the first and second LGBT Marches on Washington, in 1979 and 1987, were in October, and National Coming Out Day is on October 11.
In 2006, Equality Forum began picking 31 LGBTQ icons from all over the world through all eras of history and highlighting one each day in October to celebrate the month.