Recognizing and Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month in Our Schools

By Michael Tapia

Recognized annually in the U.S., Canada, and Australia in the month of October, LGBTQ+ History Month provides a great opportunity for educators to provide mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors for our diverse student bodies.

Created in 1994 by a Missouri high school teacher, Rodney Wilson, LGBTQ+ History Month recognizes important moments in the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their accomplishments and contributions to society. Included during this month-long recognition, National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11) not only encourages those who are LGBTQ+ to acknowledge their identities publicly but also celebrates the anniversary of the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights that first took place in October of 1987.

LGBTQ+ History Month takes on added significance considering the current political climate along with some very important legislation that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law during the last two years.

Before getting into the particulars of politics and new laws, please consider this: LGBTQ+ transcends all racial, ethnic, language, ability/disability, religious and socioeconomic groups. Beyond students, school/district staff and our students’ parents/guardians and families are being referenced here. The Williams Institute at UCLA estimates that roughly 10 percent of middle and high school students in California identify as LGBTQ (2019) and that nearly 50 percent of K-12 LGBT employees who work or have worked in the K-12 public school system have not divulged their LGBT identity at work due to fear of discrimination (2021).

As administrators, one of our responsibilities is to ensure that our campuses are welcoming to all students, families, and staff, and that our curriculum not only reflects our students’ intersecting identities but also provides insights and understanding of other cultures to those unfamiliar with them. As educators, we also want all of our students to be engaged and successful at school. However, if the school climate is not one that provides feelings of inclusivity and acceptance, opportunities for learning and achievement may be diminished for our marginalized students. It is also equally important for us to offer inclusive environments for our LGBTQ staff but based on the data mentioned previously, improvement is needed.

You are probably familiar with many of the laws that have been in place for a number of years to support students, including LGBTQ+. For example, SB 48, better known as the FAIR Education Act (effective in 2012), requires that among many diverse groups of people, LGBTQ+ Americans be included in K-12 History/Social Science instruction; the CDE released a new H/SS framework in 2016 to provide guidance in the implementation of this law.

In light of the recent pushback from a vocal minority against LGBTQ+ inclusivity across the country and in several areas of California, it is even more important to be aware of not only California policies and laws that have already been in place for some time but to learn about some of the most recent LGBTQ+ or LGBTQ+ Inclusive student legislation signed into law in 2023 or 2024 by Gov. Newsom:

AB 5 (Chavez-Zbur): Sets implementation timelines for required LGBTQ+ cultural competency training by public school teachers and staff

SB 857 (Laird): Establishes an advisory task force to identify LGBTQ+ pupil needs statewide and assist in implementing supportive initiatives

AB 1078 (Jackson): Bans “book bans” in schools, prohibits censorship of instructional materials, and strengthens California law requiring schools to provide all students access to textbooks that teach about California’s diverse communities.

AB 1955 (Ward): Just signed into law in July 2024, the Support Academic Futures & Educators for Today’s Youth (SAFETY) Act prohibits school districts from enacting forced outing policies, provides resources for parents and students to manage conversations about gender and identity privately, and protects teachers and school staff from retaliation if they refuse to out a student.

To assist you as you support and encourage student and staff learning opportunities related to LGBTQ+ history during October and throughout the school year, please consider reviewing and sharing the LGBTQ+ History Month and Pride Month Resource Guide.

Michael Tapia is a retired educator from Ventura.