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Today is the first day of LGBT History Month. But what is LGBT History Month, really?

LGBT History Month was first celebrated in the U.S. in 1994. It was founded by Missouri high-school history teacher Rodney Wilson to give us the opportunity to look at where we’ve been so that we can more clearly see where we’re headed. Wilson chose October because National Coming Out Day was already established on October 11, and October was also the month of the first LGBT march on Washington in 1979.

LGBT History Month now annually highlights the achievements of 31 LGBT Icons— 31 LGBT people who changed the world. One remarkable person for each day of the month.

Beginning October 1, 2009, the LGBT History Month website will present a new Icon. Each day you can check out that Icon’s video, bio and resources, along with information on all the preceding Icons.

The LGBT Icon launching LGBT History Month 2009? Alvin Ailey! And you can watch the short, great Icon video of Ailey, as well as check out the full list of Icons (which includes Rachel Maddow!).

1.
Alvin Ailey Jr.

2.
John Amaechi

3.
Tammy Baldwin

4.
John Cage

5.
Ruth Ellis

6.
Rainer Fassbinder

7.
Michel Foucault

8.
Harry Hay

9.
Magnus Hirschfeld

10.
Zora Neale Hurston

11.
Jasper Johns

12.
Cherry Jones

13.
Kate Kendell

14.
Alfred Kinsey

15.
k.d. lang

16.
Rachel Maddow

17.
Deirdre McCloskey

18.
Paul Monette

19.
Pauli Murray

20.
Joan Nestle

21.
Todd Oldham

22.
Suze Orman

23.
Christine Quinn

24.
Robert Rauschenberg

25.
Jerome Robbins

26.
Hilary Rosen

27.
Yves St. Laurent

28.
Esera Tuaolo

29.
Urvashi Vaid

30.
Gus Van Sant

31.
B.D. Wong