Each October the LGBTQ community and our allies celebrate those LGBTQ people who have accomplished outstanding feats in literature, science, politics, civil rights, business, and the arts. All of these people have made a huge impact on our daily lives through their actions.  However, many had to keep their sexual orientation or gender identity a secret.  As we look forward to the month of October, GSA Network is looking forward to GSA clubs across the state (and country!) creating ways to celebrate the freedoms and liberties that we enjoy and thank our LGBT heroes for their hard work in helping to open doors for all of us. 

GSA Network is proud to partner with Equality Forum to help bring GLBT History Month to schools across California and the country!  Each day in October 2010, an Icon is featured with a video, biography, bibliography, downloadable images and other educational resources. The resources for GLBT History Month 2010 Icons will be available at www.glbthistorymonth.com.

We encourage every GSA to find ways to honor GLBT History Month. One of the easiest things you can do is make an exhibit at your school using the icons from GLBT History Month.  Download the icons' pictures and bios from each day of October (available at www.glgbthistorymonth.com) to create an exhibit that you post on campus such as in the library, main office, or a hallway display case.  Many GSAs work with their school to create a customized history exhibit using the materials presented on the GLBT History Month Website.  Other GSAs engage social studies teachers to talk about the Icon of the day as an everyday example of history in the making.  Got your own idea?  Send us an email telling us about it.

There are tons of ways to celebrate GLBT History Month.  GSA Network has created a resource guide to help GSAs bring these heroes into the spotlight at your school!  Download the GLBT history month guide from our web site.

The icons we celebrate in 2010 are:

1. Eric Alva - Hero/Activist 
2. George Washington Carver - Scientist 
3. George Eastman  - Entrepreneur/Philanthropist 
4. Sharon Farmer  - White House Photographer 
5. Leslie Feinberg  - Author/Activist 
6. Tom Ford  - Fashion Designer/Filmmaker 
7. E. Lynn Harris  - Author 
8. David Huebner  - Ambassador To New Zealand 
9. Kevin Jennings  - Educator/Activist 
10. Mara Keisling  - Transgender Activist 
11. Kiyoshi Kuromiya  - Author/Aids Activist 
12. Sharon J. Lubinski  - U.S. Marshal 
13. Jane Lynch  - Actress 
14. Patsy Lynch  - Photographer 
15. Matthew Mitcham  - Olympic Diver 
16. Jamie Nabozny  - Youth Activist 
17. Cynthia Nixon  - Actress 
18. Catherine Opie  -Photographer 
19. Sunil Babu Pant  - Nepalese Politician 
20. Annise Parker - Mayor Of Houston 
21. John A. Pérez - Speaker Of California Assembly 
22. Eleanor Roosevelt - First Lady 
23. Jalal Al-Din Rumi - Sufi Mystic/Poet 
24. David Sedaris - Writer/Humorist 
25. Maurice Sendak - Author/Illustrator 
26. Matthew Shepard - Hero 
27. Johanna Sigurdardottir - Icelandic Prime Minister 
28. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Composer 
29. Rufus Wainwright - Singer/Songwriter 
30. Mel White - Minister/Activist 
31. Emanuel Xavier - Poet

You can also check out the 124 Icons featured in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 that are archived along with resources, and get more ideas for celebrating GLBT History Month by visiting: http://www.glbthistorymonth.com