LGBT History Month Remembers Teen Suicides

A 14-year-old gay teen from Buffalo, New York, Jamey Rodemeyer, took his life on Sunday. LGBT History Month Icon Lady Gaga was his inspiration, especially her song “Born This Way.” Jamey,who was constantly bullied in school, felt he "could never escape it."  

"Jamey’s suicide is a heartbreaking reminder of the vulnerability of gay teens. Every day in the United States a gay teen’s life ends in suicide. They are bullied and marginalized.  While some may say that Jamey took his life, unrelenting homophobia murdered him,” stated Malcolm Lazin, founder and Executive Director of Equality Forum. "LGBT History Month provides role models and empowering life-affirming resources. Equality Forum remembers Jamey and dedicates LGBT History Month to ending these tragedies."

Each day in October, an Icon is featured with a free video, biography, bibliography, downloadable images and other educational resources at www.lgbthistorymonth.com. LGBT History Month 2011 includes an internal search engine for all 186 Icons from 2006 – 2011.

LGBT History Month enhances self-esteem, builds community, and makes the important civil rights statement of the LGBT community’s important national and international contributions.
 
October LGBT History Month Icons

1st        Kye Allums – Athlete
2nd       John Ashbery – Poet  
3rd       Alison Bechdel – Cartoonist
4th       John Berry – Government Official  
5th       Dustin Lance Black – Screenwriter
6th       Keith Boykin – Commentator  
7th       Rita Mae Brown – Author   
8th       Dan Choi – Activist
9th       Aaron Copland – Composer  
10th     Alan Cumming – Actor
11th     Denise Eger – Rabbi
12th     Lady Gaga – Singer
13th     Michael Guest – Diplomat
14th     Neil Patrick Harris – Actor
15th     Daniel Hernandez Jr. – Hero
16th     Langston Hughes – Author
17th     Frida Kahlo – Artist
18th     David Kato – Ugandan Activist
19th     Michael Kirby – Supreme Court Justice  
20th     Victoria Kolakowski – Judge  
21st     Dave Kopay – Athlete  
22nd    Ricky Martin – Singer
23rd    Amélie Mauresmo – Athlete
24th    Constance McMillen – Youth Activist
25th    Ryan Murphy – Writer/Director  
26th    Dan Savage – Journalist/Author  
27th    Amanda Simpson – Government Official  
28th    Wanda Sykes – Comedian/Actor
29th    Lilli Vincenz – Gay Pioneer
30th    Virginia Woolf – Author
31st    Pedro Zamora – AIDS Activist, MTV Personality

 
Equality Forum is a national and international LGBT civil rights organization with an educational focus. Equality Forum coordinates LGBT History Month, produces documentary films, undertakes high-impact initiatives and presents the largest annual national and international LGBT civil rights forum.