You might be familiar with Pride Month every June that celebrates the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals and raises awareness for the ongoing fight to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people across the country. However, October is a perhaps a lesser known but equally important celebration of queer history - LGBTQ+ History Month.
LGBTQ+ History Month is largely credited to the efforts of high school teacher Rodney Wilson. In 1994, during a lesson about the Holocaust, Wilson came out to his students by explaining that he would have likely been killed for being gay under the Nazi Regime.
This small but bold act sparked a movement to highlight LGBTQ+ history in school curriculums. In 1995, LGBTQ+ History Month was added to the list of commemorative months in a resolution forwarded by the General Assembly of the National Education Association.
October was designated as LGBTQ+ History Month because it aligned with other important celebrations in the queer community. National Coming Out Day first began being celebrated on October 11, 1980. The first march for gay rights in Washington took place on October 14, 1979.
LGBTQ+ individuals are often diminished or erased in history, and many other groups and individuals have fought hard to fight for their rights. LGBTQ+ individuals were often dismissed when discussing the history of the Holocaust. During the height of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, many LGBTQ+ individuals were outcast and abandoned by their loved ones.
There have been many notable LGBTQ+ activists that have helped to carry the LGBTQ+ rights movement throughout history. Marsha P. Johnson was a transgender activist often credited with throwing the first brick at the Stonewall Riots. Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man elected to public office in California. Alexya Salvador is a Brazilian, transgender pastor who works to create an inclusive church community for LGBTQ+ individuals.
These activists are just a sample of many individuals - both known and unknown - that have created change in communities around the world.
While major strides have been made in the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement, such as the legalization of marriage equality and protecting individuals from workplace discrimination based on their sexuality and gender identity, LGBTQ+ individuals still face systems of oppression. A record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced to state legislatures across the country, and many banned books in schools and libraries discuss LGBTQ+ topics.
The best way to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month is to learn more about LGBTQ+ History! Check out the LGBTQ+ History Month website where, every day, you can learn about more LGBTQ+ icons throughout history and today. You can check out some of these resources from PFLAG, the first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their families.
You can read more about LGBTQ+ individuals and queer history right here at the Yonkers Public Library. Check out these recommendations which can be checked out in-person or on Libby. Be sure to ask a librarian for more specific recommendations. October 1-7 is also Banned Books Week, so be sure to check out some banned and challenged books by LGBTQ+ authors too.
Alison Robles is a part-time page at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction and fantasy. A Yonkers native, she graduated from Iona University in 2020 with a dual-degree in Marketing and Public Relations. She is pursuing a Masters in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo.