Equality Forum announced it's 31 Icons for LGBT History Month 2013, bringing their total archived icons to 248.
“In its 8th year, there are 248 Icons with resources archived on the site, making LGBT History Month the free go-to site for LGBT role models, civil rights history, and our national and international impact,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum and founder of LGBT History Month.
GLAAD is especially celebrating the induction of it's Co-Founder Vito Russo as an Icon. Also being inducted are Nathan Lane and Anderson Cooper, who have both received the Vito Russo Award from GLAAD.George Takei, who last year marched in the NYC LGBT Pride Parade with GLAAD and was a GLAAD Spirit Day ambassador, was also included. Gwen Araujo who GLAAD has written about extensively after she was tragically murdered over ten years ago, was also named as an Icon.
Each day in October, a new Icon is featured on the organization's site. Resources include video, a biography, a bibliography, downloadable images. These resources are all available for free at http://www.LGBTHistoryMonth.com.
This year's new Icons were selected from more than 500 nominations worldwide by LGBT History Month 2013 Co-Chairs George Chauncey, Samuel Knight Professor of American History and Chair of the History Department, Yale University; Jennifer Brier, Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago; and Don Romesburg, Assistant Professor, Sonoma State University. Professors Brier and Romesburg are Co-Chairs, Committee on LGBT History of the American Historical Association.
Secretary Arne Duncan launched LGBT History Month 2010 at the U.S. Department of Education. Nancy Pelosi issued a proclamation for LGBT History Month 2011.
"LGBT History Month teaches our history, enhances self-esteem, provides inspiring role models and makes a civil rights statement of the LGBT community’s impressive national and international contributions," stated the organization.
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.
LGBT History Month 2013 Icons:
- Zackie Achmat - South African Activist
- Edward Albee - Playwright
- Gwen Araujo - Transgender Hero
- Reinaldo Arenas - Cuban Author
- Axel Axgil - Activist
- Djuna Barnes - Author
- Joseph Beam - Activist
- Gad Beck - Holocaust Survivor
- Joan Biren - Documentarian
- Patrick Califia - Author
- Mandy Carter - Activist
- Willa Cather - Author
- Tracy Chapman - Singer/Songwriter
- Tim Cook - Apple CEO
- Anderson Cooper - Journalist
- Elio Di Rupo - Belgium Prime Minister
- Martin Duberman - Historian
- Tom of Finland - Artist
- Brenda Howard - Mother of Pride
- Nathan Lane - Actor
- Queen Latifah - Entertainer
- Simon Nkoli - South African Activist
- Bruce Nugent - Author
- Ma Rainey - Mother of the Blues
- Sally Ride - National Hero
- Marlon Riggs - Filmmaker
- Vito Russo - Film Historian
- Jose Sarria - Activist
- George Takei - Actor
- Jason Wu - Designer of Michelle Obama’s Gowns
- John Lawrence & Tyron Garner - Won a Landmark Gay Rights Case
More information can be found at: http://www.LGBTHistoryMonth.com