What is LGBT History Month?

     National Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender History Month commemorates the first two gay and lesbian marches on Washington in October 1979 and October 1987. Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender History Month not only serves as a time to study gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender history, but to provide an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to world history.

MAKE YOUR OWN HISTORY WITH THE HRC SNAPSHOT PROJECT

Living openly about your life as a GLBT American, or as a straight person who supports equality, is a lifelong process. HRC's Snapshot Project is a public art project that captures some of those moments in pictures. It's easy. It's fun. It's a great way to Talk About It.

For many people starting a conversation about life as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, transgender or even a straight person can be challenging. What do you Say? How Do you bring it up? How will they react - will it get weird.

As they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and the HRC's snapshot project is and easy and fun way to start those conversations. It's easy.

Click here for directions on how to participate

THINKING ABOUT COMING OUT?

Being brave doesn’t mean that you’re not scared. It means that if you are scared, you do the thing you’re afraid of anyway.

Coming out and living openly as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or as a straight-supportive person is an act of bravery and authenticity.

Whether it’s for the first time ever, or for the first time today — coming out may be most important thing you will do all day.

The Marshall University LGBT Outreach has materials and resources available to help you cope with the coming out process.

The following publication are available from the LGBT Outreach.

The General HRC Coming Out Resource Guide

Available Online

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD 

The HRC's Coming Out guide for African Americans.

Available Online

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Guía de Recursos Para Salir Del Clóset
 

Available online

DOWNLOAD La Guía

Living Opening in the place you worship

Available Online

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

1965: Gay and lesbians picket outside federal offices in Washington, protesting the government's employment discrimination against gays. This was the first public protest by gay people in Washington.

1969: Several days of violence, known as the "Stonewall Riots" occurs as a result of a police raid and harassment of patrons of the Stonewall Inn, a New York gay bar. Many cities begin Gay Pride Marches commemorating this uprising against oppression.

1971: The first gay march on the Canadian Parliament takes place in Ottawa.

1974: Elaine Noble wins a seat in the Massachusetts State House of Representatives, becoming one of the first openly lesbian elected to state office.

1979: First "March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights" draws approximately 100,000 marchers.

1982: 1,300 athletes from 22 countries participate in the first international Gay Games held in San Francisco. Wisconsin becomes the first state to pass legislation banning discrimination against gays in employment, housing and other areas.

1983: Representative Gerry Studds of Massachusetts becomes one of America's first openly gay Congresspersons.

1984: Berkeley, California, becomes the first U.S. city to extend spousal benefits to live-in partners of gay and lesbian city employees.

1987: Between 250,000 and 500,000 participants attend the second "March on Washington," the largest gay rights demonstration ever held in the U.S.

1989: Denmark becomes the first nation to legalize gay marriage. Norway becomes the second in 1993.

1990: President George Bush signs the National Hate Crimes Act, requiring that data be collected on crimes motivated by prejudice against people of differing sexual orientations. The third Gay Games is held in Vancouver, drawing over 5,500 athletes.

1993: The third "March on Washington" attracts one million to Washington. President Bill Clinton's administration appoints prominent gay rights activist Roberta Achtenberg as Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is the highest federal appointment for an openly gay person.

1995: President Bill Clinton ends the ban on security clearances for gay people.

1997: President Bill Clinton addresses the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the first U.S. president to speak to a gay organization.

2000: Human Rights Campaign Executive Director Elizabeth Birch addresses the Democratic National Convention. She is the first leader of a gay and lesbian organization to speak at a national political convention. Vermont passes a law that recognizes legalized civil unions.