October is LGBTQ History Month!

October is a time to observe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer history, celebrate LGBTQ achievements, and commemorate gay rights.

NEARI supports every person’s right to live, work, and thrive no matter our sexual orientation or gender identities—no exceptions.

We are celebrating LGBTQ History Month by participating in the GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) Rainbow Library. The Rainbow Library Project is a program that makes available LGBTQ+ affirming K-12 text sets to schools across select states.

Rainbow Library Contest

We have four Rainbow Library sets – and one could be in your classroom!

Submit the contest form and tell us a bit about yourself and why having a Rainbow Library is important to you. If selected, you will receive a full text set in your chosen grade grouping: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, or 9-12. 

Selections will be made and contest winners will be notified on October 29.

ENTER THE CONTEST 

More about LGBTQ History Month

While Pride Month is celebrated in June to honor the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, October is for history. In 1994, a coalition of education-based organizations in the United States designated October as LGBT History Month. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months. National Coming Out Day (October 11), as well as the first "March on Washington" in 1979, are commemorated in the LGBTQ community during LGBT History Month.

(Library of Congress)