October is LGBTQ+ History Month. The month, originally LGBT History Month, was founded in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, an openly gay high school teacher in Missouri. You may be wondering, doesn’t the LGBTQ+ community celebrate Pride in June? Yes, however, celebrating can happen more than once a year. October was chosen as the history month because the first and second LGBT March on Washington, in 1979 and 1987, occurred in October. In addition, National Coming Out Day occurs on October 11, so to Wilson, it just made sense to have this month represent the history of LGBTQ+ communities.
To celebrate this month, check out a few of my favorite movies, podcasts, music, and books about LGBTQ+ topics to expand your knowledge and impress your friends.
Movies/Documentaries
Podcasts
Throughline – Before Stonewall
Music
Books
The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall
Dykes to Watch Out For (Series) + more comics by Allison Bechdel
—Dhy Edwardsberry, business librarian, Goizueta Business Library, and co-chair of the Black Library Professional Group at Emory Libraries