4. Ninia Baehr & Genora Dancel
6. Victor Blackwell
7. Matt Bomer
8. Raphael Bostic
9. Jennifer Finney Boylan
10. Kate Brown
11. Nancy Cárdenas
12. Kitty Cone
13. Robert Cutler
14. André De Shields
15. Lea Delaria
16. Anna Elizabeth Dickinson
17. Masha Gessen
18. Ron Gold
19. Radclyffe Hall
20. Bell Hooks
21. Jazz Jennings
22. Mondaire Jones
23. Stephen Lachs
24. Lawrence of Arabia
25. Lance Loud
26. James Merrill
27. Rudolf Nureyev
28. J. Paul Oetken
29. Amy Schneider
30. Amy Walter
31. Alice Wu
In 1994, Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher, believed a month should be dedicated to the celebration and teaching of gay and lesbian history, and gathered other teachers and community leaders. They selected October because public schools are in session and existing traditions, such as Coming Out Day (October 11), occur that month.
Gay and Lesbian History Month was endorsed by GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Education Association and other national organizations. In 2006 Equality Forum assumed responsibility for providing content, promotion and resources for LGBT History Month.
LGBT History Month celebrates the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Icons. Each day in October, a new LGBT Icon is featured with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images and other resources.
