Broward County Becomes First Major School Board
to Pass Resolution in Support of LGBT History Month
The School Board of Broward County, Florida unanimously passed a resolution on September 19, 2012 declaring its support of LGBT History Month, October 2012. In doing do, the school district becomes the first in the nation to issue an official resolution supporting LGBT History Month. The Broward County School District is the sixth largest school district in the nation and includes Fort Lauderdale.
The resolution states:
Lesbian Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society…Encompassing a number of historically important days, this October is set to remind both the LGBT and wider communities of important roles LGBT people have taken in creating the social, legal and political worlds we live in today.
The School Board of Broward County, Florida appreciates and recognizes the importance of LGBT History Month as an effective means of educating and calling to action the citizens of Broward County to work together to promote equal protection of all Broward County students and staff, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
“The Broward School Board is to be commended. They have broken the cocoon of invisibility, affirmed the important role of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans and taken a pioneering step in embracing diversity, inclusion and respect,” stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum, and founder of LGBT History Month.
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.
Equality Forum coordinates LGBT History Month. Each day in October, 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 site.
Organizations, educational institutions, workplace groups and individuals can obtain for free the featured Icon’s video for each day in October. An easily embedded video player provides the Icon’s video, which is automatically updated daily.
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.
