By: Onnie Stone
In June, LGBTQIA+ Pride Month is celebrated in remembrance of the Stonewall Uprising, a major event in the Gay Liberation Movement. In October, LGBT History Month is celebrated to honor the leaders and milestones in the LGBTQ+ community.
It dates back to 1994 when Rodney Wilson, an openly-gay Missouri school teacher, dedicated a month to educating people on the history of the LGBT community. He chose October because of National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11.
“The greatest act of advocacy for civil rights for LGBT Americans is the act of coming out,” Wilson said. Representation is essential to equality. LGBT History Month and National Coming Out Day encourages queer people to be true to themselves.
In October, the diversity and talents that queer people have to offer is on display. LGBTQ+ people are more likely to face discrimination in the workplace, so this month emphasizes their achievements.
It is also a time to reflect on how recent much of the progress has been for LGBTQ+ civil rights. As a reminder, it has only been eight years since gay marriage was made legal in the U.S. Today, civil rights for queer people is just as important as ever. Transgender healthcare has become a contentious topic. Many queer people fear a rollback in legislation protecting LGBTQ+ rights.
