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.