It’s GLBT History Month, and what better way to kick it off than with a Texas native?! Over on its GLBT History Month Web site, Equality Forum will be presenting a GLBT icon for each day of the month, including a video, bio, downloadable images and other resources. Today’s GLBT icon is Alvin Ailey Jr., who was an internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer born in Rogers, Texas. Never heard of Ailey? That’s because we don’t know our history. According to the Web site, “The GLBT community is the only community worldwide that does not learn its history at home, in public schools or in religious institutions. GLBT History Month teaches our heritage, provides role models, builds community and makes the civil rights statement of our extraordinary national and international contributions.”
After the jump, a full list of GLBT icons who’ll be honored this month, which marks the fourth year of the project.
1. Alvin Ailey Jr.
2. John Amaechi
3. Tammy Baldwin
4. John Cage
5. Ruth Ellis
6. Rainer Fassbinder
7. Michel Foucault
8. Harry Hay
9. Magnus Hirschfeld
10. Zora Neale Hurston
11. Jasper Johns
12. Cherry Jones
13. Kate Kendell
14. Alfred Kinsey
15. k.d. lang
16. Rachel Maddow
17. Deirdre McCloskey
18. Paul Monette
19. Pauli Murray
20. Joan Nestle
21. Todd Oldham
22. Suze Orman
23. Christine Quinn
24. Robert Rauschenberg
25. Jerome Robbins
26. Hilary Rosen
27. Yves St. Laurent
28. Esera Tuaolo
29. Urvashi Vaid
30. Gus Van Sant
31. B.D. Wong
“”According to the Web site, “The GLBT community is the only community worldwide that does not learn its history at home, in public schools or in religious institutions. GLBT History Month teaches our heritage, provides role models, builds community and makes the civil rights statement of our extraordinary national and international contributions.”””
What a wonderful point. What an amazing mission/purpose. This is the most worth while project I have seen in almost a decade. I love it!