Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague has proclaimed the month of October as LGBTQ+ History Month.
LGBTQ+ History Month celebrates and commemorates those who fought for equal rights and services for the LGBTQ+ community and is a means of educating others, promoting a culture of acceptance and inclusivity, and advancing equality for all.
LGBTQ+ History Month was first observed in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher and the first openly gay public school teacher in Missouri. Wilson believed a month should be dedicated to the celebration and teaching of gay and lesbian history and gathered other teachers and community leaders to his cause. The group selected October for the observance because public schools are in session and existing traditions, such as Coming Out Day (Oct. 11) and the first and second LGBT Marches on Washington, were in October. This year marks the 27th Anniversary of LGBTQ+ History Month. Learn more here.
The proclamation was submitted by the City’s Human Rights Commission and was accepted by LGBTQ Iowa Archives & Library Director Aiden M. Bettine. You can read the proclamation here.
