GLBT History Month 2010

During October 2010, Equality Forum is sponsoring the 5th annual LGBT History Month.

Beginning October 1, a GLBT Icon will be presented daily, with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images, and other resources – all provided for free. The 124 Icons with resources for 2006 – 2009 are also archived on the site. For five years, since 2006, Equality Forum has provided videos, bios, bibliographies, downloadable images, and other resources for 31 GLBT History Month Icons each October.

“Equality Forum offers a free GLBT History Month link to organizations, educational institutions, workplace groups, and the public,” stated Malcolm Lazin, executive director of the Equality Forum.

The 31 Icon videos can be embedded without charge on Web sites, blogs or social networking pages by following the instructions on the site. Once embedded, the video player will automatically update the daily Icon video.

GLBT History Month posters, Icon lists, graphically-designed Icon bios, and images can be downloaded or printed by clicking on “Resources.” These resources can be used to make a GLBT History Month Exhibit. Equality Forum and GLSEN are sponsoring a GLBT History Month Exhibit Contest for high school GSAs.

“This month is an opportunity for schools to acknowledge and celebrate the positive contributions of LGBT people whose identities are absent from history books. Gay-Straight Alliances across the country look forward to this month every year as a way to introduce positive LGBT role models to their members and classmates,” said Eliza Byard, Executive Director, GLSEN.

The U.S. Department of Education will recognize October as LGBT History Month, with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan providing welcoming remarks at the Department's first LGBT History Month event.

"For a community deprived of its history, GLBT History Month teaches heritage, provides role models, builds community, and recognizes extraordinary national and international contributions," said Ora Alger, LGBTA Employees President, U.S. Department of Education.

(Starting in 2011, GLBT History Month will be renamed LGBT History Month. Information for GLBT History Month 2010 can currently be accessed at www.glbtHistoryMonth.com or www.lgbtHistoryMonth.com.)