I was surprised the other day when I walked into the Gulfport library and saw display at the entrance celebrating LGBT History Month.
A smile crossed my face as I remembered the brouhaha over just such a display in Hillsborough County eight years ago that inspired then-commissioner Rhonda Storms to prevent her county from recognizing LGBT pride events. Fortunately, the ordinance she helped create fell earlier this year.
I am thankful I live in LGBT-friendly Gulfport where the only thing that would have upset our residents would have been if our library hadn’t put out such a display.
Back in 1994, Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher, believed a month should be dedicated to the celebration and teaching of gay and lesbian history, and gathered other teachers and community leaders. They selected October because public schools are in session and existing traditions, such as Coming Out Day (Oct. 11), occur that month.
GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Education Association, and other national organizations all endorsed Gay and Lesbian History month and, in 2006, Equality Forum assumed responsibility for providing content, promotion and resources for LGBT History.
One of my pet peeves is that gay history is not taught or even mentioned in our schools. I remember interviewing a young teen who talked about studying the civil rights struggles of the 1960s without even mention of the Stonewall Riots that launched the modern gay rights movement. How are our young people going to understand what a remarkable times we live in with state after state approving marriage equality, gays serving openly in the military and the federal government recognizing our relationships if they have no idea where we’ve been?
In fact, that peeve is shared among enough of us that St. Pete Pride is held on the hottest day of the year to commemorate that June 1969 riot. It was a revolutionary turning point in our struggle for full equality.
Without it there would be no marriage equality, no gays in the military, no openly gay elected officials. We held firm that a Pride event should at the very least pay tribute to that event and perhaps even educate some people about it.
That tactic worked.
When I’m wiping the sweat off my brow or singing in the rain like we did earlier this year, I remember when I was co-chair of Pride how many times I had to educate a reporter about Stonewall when they inevitably ask the question about why we have the event when its so hot and rainy. If you aren’t familiar with Stonewall, your homework assignment is to go Google it now!
LGBT people have always been a vibrant and productive force in our nation. From the arts to science, from entertainment to education, LGBTs have contributed just as much as other minority groups that are more celebrated. We have a much deserved and respected Martin Luther King Day as a national holiday. But why no federally recognized Harvey Milk Day?
Each October, LGBT History month celebrates 31 of those key leaders who have or are helping to transform our society and its views toward LGBT people. That’s a person for each day of the month I was delighted to see so many names I recognize on this year’s list:
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, entrepreneur; Anderson Cooper, journalist; Elio Di Rup, Belgium Prime Minister; Martin Duberman, historian; Tom of Finland, artist, Brenda Howard, activist; Nathan Lane, actor; Queen Latifah, entertainer; Simon Nkoli, South African activist; Bruce Nugent, author; Ma Rainey, singer; Sally Ride, astronaut; Marlon Riggs, filmmaker; Vito Russo, film historian; Jose Sarria, activist; George Takei, actor; Jason Wu, designer; John Lawrence and Tyron Garner, legal activists
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As a separate side note, for those of you who are HIV positive like me and have experienced “Doctor Drama” with all the changes brought about by Barry Rodwick, MD closing his old practice, I have great news. I had my first appointment back with Barry at his beautiful new office in Clearwater.
He decorated the place himself and you can see the homey charm he exudes in his bedside manner in all the furnishings. An even better surprise was to see all the old “clan” of workers, including our dear Mona, back in his office.
I want to personally thank Dr. Roy Findley for the outstanding care he gave me while I awaited the re-opening of Barry’s office. Since the new office is considered a new business, you’ll have to fill out all the HIPPA stuff again, but it’s well worth it. Great to have you back Barry!
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