When is LGBTQ+ History Month?
LGBTQ+ History Month is under way
Thu, Oct 1, 2026 – Sat, Oct 31, 2026
The whole of October.
LGBTQ+ History Month is a month for teaching and learning the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and the civil rights movements they built. A Missouri high school teacher started it in 1994.
About LGBTQ+ History Month
LGBTQ+ History Month encourages schools, libraries, museums and community groups to bring the lives and contributions of LGBTQ+ people into the history they teach and display. It covers artists, scientists, athletes, politicians and activists, as well as turning points in the struggle for legal equality, and it is meant for everyone, not only LGBTQ+ people.
The month began in 1994, when Rodney Wilson, a high school history teacher in Missouri, proposed a month for teaching gay and lesbian history and gathered other teachers and community leaders to support it. According to the organizers, they chose October because schools are in session and because National Coming Out Day, on October 11, already fell in that month. The original Gay and Lesbian History Month was endorsed by national groups including GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Education Association.
Since 2006 the nonprofit Equality Forum has coordinated the US observance under the name LGBT History Month. Each year it names 31 Icons, one for each day of October, and publishes a short video, biography, bibliography and images for each so teachers and others can use them. Unlike June's Pride Month, which some presidents have proclaimed, the October history month is organized by private groups, schools and local governments rather than by an annual federal proclamation.
Other countries keep their own versions on different dates. In the United Kingdom, LGBT+ History Month is held in February and is run by the education charity Schools OUT UK, which also publishes free classroom resources. The dates on this page follow the US calendar.
Sources: Equality Forum, LGBT History Month: Background, Equality Forum, LGBT History Month: Icons, Schools OUT UK: LGBT+ History Month. How we check dates.
How to mark LGBTQ+ History Month
- Look up each day's Icon on the LGBT History Month website and share one story you didn't know.
- Visit a local LGBTQ+ archive, history project or museum exhibit, or browse a digitized collection online.
- Read a biography or memoir of an LGBTQ+ figure from history, or recommend one to your library's display.
- Teachers can add an age-appropriate lesson on an LGBTQ+ scientist, writer or civil rights leader that fits their subject.
- Record an oral history with an older LGBTQ+ friend or relative, with their permission, and consider donating it to a community archive.
LGBTQ+ History Month dates
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Wed, Oct 1 – Fri, Oct 31 |
| 2026 | Thu, Oct 1 – Sat, Oct 31 |
| 2027 | Fri, Oct 1 – Sun, Oct 31 |
| 2028 | Sun, Oct 1 – Tue, Oct 31 |
| 2029 | Mon, Oct 1 – Wed, Oct 31 |
| 2030 | Tue, Oct 1 – Thu, Oct 31 |
| 2031 | Wed, Oct 1 – Fri, Oct 31 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is LGBTQ+ History Month 2026?
LGBTQ+ History Month 2026 is Thu, Oct 1, 2026 – Sat, Oct 31, 2026. It falls on the whole of October. In 2027, it is on Friday, October 1, 2027.
Who started LGBTQ+ History Month?
Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher, started it in 1994 with other teachers and community leaders. Equality Forum has coordinated the US observance since 2006.
Why is LGBTQ+ History Month in October in the US but February in the UK?
The US founders picked October because schools are in session and National Coming Out Day falls on October 11. The UK observance, run by Schools OUT UK, is held separately in February.
How is it different from Pride Month?
Pride Month in June grew out of the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall uprising and centers on celebration and visibility. LGBTQ+ History Month in October focuses on education and the study of history.
Is LGBTQ+ History Month a public holiday?
No. LGBTQ+ History Month is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.