>From: >Date: Tue, 9 Aug 1994 16:16:11 -0800 I am sending out the more current version of the press release to supersede the previous version since the July version is inclusive of bisexuals. NEWS RELEASE July 18, 1994 Contact: Rodney Wilson, (314) 352-6011 Kevin Boyer, (708) 256-8446 October Declared Lesbian & Gay History Month July 18, 1994 . . .Several national lesbian/bisexual/gay organizations, educational associations and prominent historians have jointly declared each October as National Lesbian & Gay History Month. Modeled on successful celebrations such as Black History Month (February), Women's History Month (March), Lesbian & Gay History Month is designed to promote the teaching of LesBiGay history in secondary and post-secondary academic settings, as well as within the LesBiGay community and mainstream society. Participating in the declaration of Lesbian & Gay History Month are the American Historical Association's Committee on Lesbian & Gay History, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD/USA), Gay & Lesbian Americans, the Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF), Project 10 (an organization that provides support to gay/lesbian teenagers in high schools), Project 21 (advocates for curriculum reform), City of Chicago Advisory Council on Gay & Lesbian Issues, and Massachusetts Governor's Commission on Gay & Lesbian Youth. Prominent historians and educators, including Martin Duberman, Jonathan Ned Katz, George Chauncey, Karen Harbeck, Arthur Lipkin and William Percy are also lending their support to Lesbian & Gay History Month. "Our goal is to uncover, preserve and proclaim to the world our long-ignored and distorted history," says LGHM advocate Rodney Wilson, a high school history teacher from St. Louis. "We hope to educate society about the contributions made by lesbians, bisexuals and gay men to the history of our world and reclaim our heroes whose contributions have been `sanitized' of their sexual orientation." "This is an ideal way to identify role models for the nation's gay & lesbian youth so that they can see a future where they are valued regardless of their sexual orientation," says LGHM advocate Kevin Boyer, president of the Board of Directors of the Gerber/Hart Gay & Lesbian Library & Archives in Chicago. "We encourage academic institutions to incorporate Lesbian & Gay History Month into their regular October curriculum." Boyer and Wilson note that October was selected rather than June because of this academic component of History Month celebrations. "We have such a need to educate the next generation of Americans about the important role LesBiGay people continue to play in our world's history," they both note. Very few secondary schools and no colleges or universities are in session throughout June, the month in which Pride activities celebrate the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion that is credited with starting the modern lesbian/gay civil rights movement. Almost all academic institutions are in session in October. "October has important anniversaries for the lesbian & gay community, as well," says Johnda Boyce an LGHM advocate from Columbus, Ohio. "The first and second marches on Washington for Gay & Lesbian rights were in October (1979 and 1987) and National Coming Out Day is October 11," she notes. A National Coordinating Council has been formed to raise awareness and assist in the development of grassroots activities. Local Councils already exist in Seattle, Chicago, St. Louis, Boston, and Columbus. The National Council has resource materials available to individuals and organizations interested in helping to celebrate Lesbian & Gay History Month. To obtain resource materials, send a SASE with 52 stamp to: LGHM, c/o Gerber/Hart Library & Archives, 3352 N. Paulina, Chicago, IL 60657. Call (312) 883-3003 for more information.