The 2012 Icons List

1. Roberta Achtenberg
2. Gloria Anzaldua
3. Ann Bannon
4. Katharine Lee Bates
5. Mary Bonauto
6. Glenn Burke
7. Paul Cadmus
8. Truman Capote
9. Chris Colfer
10. Kate Clinton
11. Ramon Cortines
12. Marlene Dietrich
13. Jodie Foster
14. Jean Paul Gaultier
15. Henry Gerber
16. Billy Haines
17. Mary Kay Henry
18. Chris Hughes
19. Christine Jorgensen
20. Arthur Laurents
21. Don Lemon
22. Federico Garcia Lorca
23. Irshad Manji
24. Katherine Miller
25. Holly Near
26. RuPaul
27. Pierre Seel
28. Billy Strayhorn
29. Jon Stryker
30. Tom Waddell
31. Rev. Robert Wood




Source: Press release

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 initial, 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 at www.lgbtHistoryMonth.com. Started in 2006 with 31 Icons per year, there are 217 Icons with resources archived on the LGBT History Month site.
2012 Icons