Coming Out Month
“All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential.”
-Harvey Milk
The month of October is a very special one for many people across the United States, it is LGBT history month! LGBT history month is a month-long annual observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history.
LGBT history month originated in the United States and was first celebrated in 1994.
It was founded by Missouri high-school history teacher Rodney Wilson. October was chosen by Wilson as the month for the celebration because National Coming Out Day already was established as a widely known event taking place on October 11. October also commemorates the first march on Washington by LGBT people in 1979. LGBT History Month is intended to encourage honesty and openness about being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. This is not to be confused with Pride month, which takes place in June! October is a time of emergence and embracement of one’s sexuality and gender identification.
This month is especially important to me because as the president of my high school’s GSA, I myself faced a lot of discrimination and bullying even though I had a boyfriend at the time and was not “gay”. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of hate inflicted on the LGBT community. Even within the LGBT community, there is some inequality due to a lack of understanding- namely the transgendered.
I am now a member of my school’s EGAY (Everything Great About You), which is essentially the GSA of my campus’s housing. In addition to EGAY, my school also has a Queer Alliance (QA). Despite going to school in San Francisco, there are still a lot of people closeted, myself included. This issue is very near and dear to my heart and because it is LGBT history month/ coming out month I would like to provide some resources for anyone who might need them. Coming out is very personal and can be met with opposition or welcome arms. Twenty-five percent of teenagers are thrown out of their homes when they “come out” to family members. Coming out is risky but can also be highly rewarding. Remaining closeted is often the reason behind self-harm, depression, and suicide. Coming out is a very personal, rejuvenating experience. There is no “right time” to come out, it is one’s personal decision. Whether you’re an ally or a member of the LGBT community there are three small steps you can take to creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment:
- Keep an open mind and treat people equally.
- Do NOT use the word gay in a derogatory manner. “That’s so GAY”.
- Upon meeting someone new, who’s gender identity you don’t know, ask them their preferred pronoun (PGP)
Here are some more additional resources you can check out:
LGBT Campus
AARP Information
LGBT Movie List
- But I’m a Cheerleader
- CAMP
- Chutney Popcorn
- D.E.B.S
- The Edge of Seventeen
- The Family Stone
- Floored By Love
- Hedwig and the Angry Itch
- The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls In Love
- Mango Soufflé
- The Object of my Affection
- RENT
- Saved!
- Imagine Me and You
- Ma Vie en Rose
- Victor/ Victoria
- All about My Mother
- Angels In America’
LGBT Book List
- Keeping You A Secret- Julie Anne Peters
- Naked- David Sedaris
- Boys Like Us- Patrick Merla
- And The Band Played On- Randy Shilts
- Annie On My Mind- Nancy Garden
- Mrs. Dalloway- Virginia Wolf
- Will Grayson Will Grayson- David Levithan & John Greene
- Luna- Julie Anne Peters
- Gay America: Struggle for Equality- Linas Alsenas
- The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy- Robert Leleux
- Am I Blue? – Marion Dane Bauer
