October is LGBT History Month

Malcolm Lazin, Founder and Executive Director of Equality Forum talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about LGBT History Month. For the past 6 years every October Equality Forum coordinates “LGBT History Month” honoring LGBT leaders and icons. Each day in October, an Icon is featured with a video, biography, bibliography, downloadable images and other educational resources. The 2011 honorees are: Kye Allums – Athlete, John Ashbery – Poet, Alison Bechdel – Cartoonist, John Berry – Gov. Official, Dustin Lance Black – Screenwriter, Keith Boykin – Commentator, Rita Mae Brown – Author, Dan Choi – Activist, Aaron Copland – Composer, Alan Cumming – Actor, Rabbi Denise Eger, 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 – Activist, Ryan Murphy – Writer/Director, Dan Savage – Journalist, Amanda Simpson – Government Official, Wanda Sykes – Comedian, Lilli Vincenz – Gay Pioneer, Virginia Woolf – Author and Pedro Zamora – AIDS Activist & MTV Personality. LGBTQ teens are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. We continue to have numerous teens taking their own lives after facing bullying incidents. When asked what advise he would have for these kids, Lazin stated, “One of the things that we’re particularly pleased with was that last year there were over one thousand generators to LGBT history Month and the top 1/10 percent or top ten was The Trevor Project. So youth are coming to this site, they’re finding role models, finding empowerment and life affirming resources. What we’re suggesting is particularly GSA’s (Gay Straight Alliances) but more so to college students is “Make It Better.” I certainly applaud “It Gets Better’ but “Make It Better” really says take on the responsibility yourselves. So we’re asking colleges and universities around the country to download resources from LGBT History Month and create an LGBT History Month 2011 exhibit, particularly in a visible place on your campus like a college student union building. Those are the types of things that make change and certainly if anyone looks at this list of 31 icons for this year they’re hugely impressive and make a civil rights statement as to our national and international contributions.” The videos are offered without charge to educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, for profit companies and the public. 2011 marks the 6th anniversary of LGBT History Month, featuring 186 Icons from 2006 to 2011. For More Info: lgbthistorymonth.com

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