Los Angeles Unified School District
to Collaborate in LGBT History Month
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the nation’s second largest school district, will collaborate in LGBT History Month in October 2012. The district will utilize the free LGBT History Month online educational resources.
The LAUSD educational collaboration follows the passage of the FAIR Education Act in 2011, making California the first state to require public schools to teach LGBT inclusive history. “ I want LGBT students to see their education as the diamond, their joy in their life rather than their trauma,” said Dr. Judy Chiasson, Coordinator, Human Relations, Diversity & Equity, for LAUSD. “Schools have an obligation to present the diversity of our communities. There are many different types of families; we want all of our families to be recognized in our schools.”
On September 19th, the School Board of Broward County, Florida, the nation’s sixth largest school district, became the first in the country to issue a unanimous resolution in support of LGBT History Month.
Equality Forum coordinates LGBT History Month. “Previously, the LGBT community was the only minority not taught its history at home, in public schools or religious institutions,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum, and founder of LGBT History Month. “The Los Angeles and Broward School Districts are the first major public school districts to recognize the important national and international contributions of the LGBT community. These two school districts take the first, but giant step in public school embracing LGBT inclusion and respect.”
The Los Angeles and Broward School Districts include more than one million students. There are over 14,000 school districts in the United States.
In 2010, the federal government recognized LGBT History Month when Secretary Arne Duncan led a U.S. Department of Education ceremony. In 2011, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi issued a proclamation for LGBT History Month.
Each day of the month, an Icon is featured with a video, biography, bibliography, downloadable images and other educational resources. These resources are available without charge atwww.lgbtHistoryMonth.com. Started in 2006 with 31 Icons per year, there are 217 Icons with resources archived on the LGBT History Month site.
October 2012 LGBT History Month Icons
1. Roberta Achtenberg – Government
2. Gloria Anzaldua – Author
3. Ann Bannon – Author
4. Katherine Lee Bates – “America the Beautiful” Songwriter
5. Mary Bonauto – Lawyer
6. Glenn Burke – Athlete
7. Paul Cadmus – Artist
8. Truman Capote – Novelist
9. Chris Colfer – Actor
10. Kate Clinton – Comedian
11. Ramon Cortines – Educator
12. Marlene Dietrich – Actor
13. Jodie Foster – Actor/Director
14. Jean Paul Gaultier – Designer
15. Henry Gerber – Activist
16. Billy Haines – Actor
17. Mary Kay Henry – Labor Activist
18. Chris Hughes – Facebook Co-founder
19. Christine Jorgensen – Transgender Pioneer
20. Arthur Laurents – Playwright/Director
21. Don Lemon – News Anchor
22. Federico Garcia Lorca – Poet
23. Irshad Manji – Muslim Reformist
24. Katherine Miller – Activist
25. Holly Near – Singer
26. RuPaul – Entertainer
27. Pierre Seel – Holocaust Hero
28. Billy Strayhorn – Composer
29. Jon Stryker – Philanthropist
30. Tom Waddell – Gay Games Founder
31. Rev. Robert Wood – Gay Pioneer
Equality Forum (www.equalityforum.com), a national and international LGBT civil rights organization with an educational focus, coordinates LGBT History Month worldwide, produces documentary films, undertakes high-impact initiatives and presents annually the largest national and international LGBT civil rights summit.
