The month of October is recognized as LGBTQIA+ History Month. Adler University commemorates and celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history and honors the history of the Gay Rights Movement and the countless contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community. In October, we celebrate National Coming Out Day on the 11th, memorialize the first and second marches on Washington (1979 and 1987) for LGBTQIA+ rights, and recognize International Pronouns Day on the 20th. We revel in the diversity of identities, experiences, ethnicities, and journeys of this community and cultivate a greater commitment to creating an inclusive and socially just society.
The History of the Pride Flag
Gilbert Baker developed the first Pride Flag in 1978, feeling that flags represent the most powerful symbols of pride and conveyed a strong message of proclaiming visibility, saying “This is Who I Am.” Baker adopted eight-color striped, each with its own meaning (hot pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for art, indigo for harmony, and violet for spirit).
Since 1978, over 30 flags have flown to honor the various identities celebrated under the LGBTQ spectrum. A recent addition is the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag, designed by Valentino Vecchietti in 2021. It reflects the colors of the transgender flag, while the black and brown striped represent people of color and members of the community lost to AIDS.
Over the course of October, Adler University will be spotlighting prominent LGBTQIA+ activists on our Twitter and Instagram.
Learn and Support
Digital Collections – GLBT Historical Society
Generations of Mentorship: Conversations with LGBTQ Elders – The New York Times
The Queer History Book List – Penguin Random House
History of Canadian Pride – Queer Events
Timeline: Notable Events in LGBT Canadian History – CBC
Canada’s Queer Rights Movement Exist Because of Black People – Global News
A Guide to Gender Identity Terms – NPR
Schuyler Bailar – TGBTQ (Trans) Educational Advocacy
The List for Us – Collection of Resources
Blair Imani – Educational Advocacy
Organizations
The Advocates for Informed Choice