October is GLBT History Month. - Democratic Underground

Behind the Aegis

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Tue Oct-04-11 03:08 AM
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October is GLBT History Month.

It is important for people to learn about our culture. It is a long history, and what makes it unusual is we are not of one nation, one ethnicity, one country, one religion, or one mindset. We range from engaging artists and poets to military leaders and professional athletes. We come from all walks of life. We are your brothers and sisters, your fathers and mothers, your aunts and uncles, your children, your extended family members, your friends; we are/were, sometimes without your knowing, your favorite teacher, your favorite actor/actress, your favorite author...painter...athlete...politician...singer...activist for another cause...historical figure. We are everywhere!

Our history is being made now, but the past is also important. We continue to battle for our equality in this country, and, sadly, some of our brothers and sisters battle for their very lives in other countries. Like others, we face poverty, homelessness, suicide, and the everyday trials and tribulations. DADT is dead (and hopefully buried), but DOMA is very much alive, states have passed constitutional amendments to prevent us from marrying, and everyday attacks against us are still way too common. Our young people struggle with their identities, despite the progress made. Our older generation face unique challenges with retirement and quality of life. We are told to "wait" for our equality, told we are "asking for too much, too soon," and told "not to be so sensitive" to setbacks and outright attacks against our community. But there are good things as well; we see some being able to marry, we see positive role models, we see non-GLBT people standing with us in sincerity, love, and perhaps most importantly, respect!

Here are some sites to learn about our unique and fascinating culture and history:

LGBT History Month
Nazi Persecution of Gays
Gays in the Holocaust
Gay Art & History: The World History of Male Love
Gay Heroes
People with a History: An Online Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans* History

Certainly our history is filled with incredible people who have made a huge mark and there are also those of us who most will never know, but we too have made a mark in GLBT history. I hope the GLBT DU'ers (this includes our allies) will "bump" this thread with the marks they have made to our movement or comments on their heroes/heroines.

I will start....

I was active in my university's GLBT group, was even the president and the advisor. I served as an advisor to two more GLBT groups at two other universities. I have been to gay pride festivals/marches in eight states, including the second National March on Washington. I have spoken on the steps of the South Carolina state capitol building. I worked to get sexual orientation added to the non-discriminatory clause to various groups, including university policy. I worked to get courses taught about GLBT issues in two universities, some are still being taught 20 years later. I have helped others come out. I have worked with various organizations, including several police departments and rape crisis centers to deal with issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Some of my heroes are Melissa Ethridge, Ellen Degeneres, Barney Frank, Harvey Milk, and Alexander the Great.

Also, check out some great movies... Bent, Making Love, Personal Best, The Celluloid Closet, Jeffrey, Edge of Seventeen, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, My Beautiful Laundrette, Prayers for Bobby, The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Longtime Companion, Shelter, Milk and Brokeback Mountain. My personal favorites: Torch Song Trilogy, Maurice, Latter Days, Beautiful Thing and (yes, I will admit it), The Broken Hearts Club.

Come, celebrate GLBT History Month with me...share your stories and heroes!