October is LGBT History Month, and a public service announcement and preview videos are now available online at www.equalityforum.com.
Each day in October, an Icon is featured with a video, biography, bibliography, downloadable images and other educational resources. These resources will be offered without charge at www.lgbtHistoryMonth.com.
“In its sixth year, there will be an inspiring 186 Icons with resources on the site. The 31 Icons for 2011 include four youth, three transgender leaders, seven international Icons, six Oscar, Tony and Emmy winners, activists as well as legends Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin and Wanda Sykes,” stated Malcolm Lazin, founder of LGBT History Month.
LGBT History Month 2011 icons:
Kye Allums – Athlete
John Ashbery – Poet
Alison Bechdel – Cartoonist
John Berry – Government Official
Dustin Lance Black – Screenwriter
Keith Boykin – Commentator
Rita Mae Brown – Author
Dan Choi – Activist
Aaron Copland – Composer
Alan Cumming – Actor
Denise Eger – Rabbi
Lady Gaga – Singer
Michael Guest – Diplomat
Neil Patrick Harris – Actor
Daniel Hernandez Jr. – Hero
Langston Hughes – Author
Frida Kahlo – Artist
David Kato – Ugandan Activist
Michael Kirby – Supreme Court Justice
Victoria Kolakowski – Judge
Dave Kopay – Athlete
Ricky Martin – Singer
Amélie Mauresmo – Athlete
Constance McMillen – Youth Activist
Ryan Murphy – Writer/Director
Dan Savage - Journalist/Author
Amanda Simpson – Government Official
Wanda Sykes – Comedian/Actress
Lilli Vincenz – Gay Pioneer
Virginia Woolf – Author
Pedro Zamora – AIDS Activist, MTV Personality
LGBT History Month provides role models, teaches history, builds community, and makes the important civil rights statement of the LGBT community’s important contributions. As the only community worldwide that is not taught its history at home, in public schools or religious institutions, this free online project is educational, engaging and empowering. In 2010, the federal government recognized the project with Secretary Arne Duncan launching LGBT History Month ceremonies at the US Department of Education.
LGBT History Month was launched in 2006 with 20 organizations having a link on their websites. In 2010, over 700 organizations and educational institutions had a link, making LGBT History Month the largest LGBT collaboration. In 2006, there were under 100,000 web hits. In 2010, the site had 6 million hits (6,000% increase) and 260,000 unique visitors.
Equality Forum (www.equalityforum.com), a national and international LGBT civil rights organization with an educational focus, coordinates LGBT History Month worldwide, produces documentary films, undertakes high-impact initiatives and presents annually the largest national and international LGBT civil rights summit.