Celebrating LGBTQ+ History While Standing Against Today’s Backlash
October is more than just a time for rainbow-coloured celebrations—it’s LGBTQ+ History Month, or OUTober, a vital opportunity to honour the foundation laid by those who came before us. Without the relentless work of LGBTQ+ pioneers, especially trans elders, the queer community wouldn’t stand as tall as it does today. As we celebrate our progress, we must also acknowledge that every victory we enjoy rests on the shoulders of these giants, who paved the way with courage, cooperation, and an unshakable belief in the power of community.
The Foundations of LGBTQ+ History Month
LGBTQ+ History Month was founded by Rodney Wilson in 1994 as a way to recognize the profound contributions of queer individuals throughout history. October was chosen to coincide with National Coming Out Day and early Pride movements, making it a perfect time for reflection and action1. Yet, this month isn’t just about remembering—it’s about continuing the fight, something our queer elders understood all too well.
Figures like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, both trans women of color, laid the foundation for LGBTQ+ activism as we know it. Their work during the Stonewall Riots and afterward as organizers made it possible for future generations to build upon their efforts. Trans elders, particularly those marginalized within an already marginalized community, often bore the brunt of the early fight for equality, sacrificing their safety to carve out spaces for future queer folks to thrive.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
The LGBTQ+ community today is often described as more visible and empowered than ever, but we didn’t arrive here alone. As we celebrate OUTober 2024, it’s crucial to remember that today’s community exists because of the trans elders who laid the groundwork. They built the foundation not just with activism, but with radical acts of cooperation and community-building. From organizing grassroots movements to creating safe havens for queer youth, trans elders have always been at the heart of these efforts. Their fight wasn’t just for survival; it was for a future where people like us could live openly and authentically.
Their legacy lives on through every protest, every Pride march, and every victory we celebrate today. In many ways, today’s queer community is continuing the work of trans trailblazers who understood that progress doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens when we lift each other up and stand together against oppression. The fight for trans rights—from health care access to legal protections—draws on the strength of this legacy.
Today’s LGBTQ+ community stands tall because of the trans elders who built our foundations—not just with activism, but with a radical spirit of cooperation and love.”
The Spirit of Cooperation and Community
At the core of LGBTQ+ history is the concept of cooperation—a collective spirit that has long fueled the community’s ability to push back against injustice. It’s this spirit that trans elders embodied so fiercely. From the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), co-founded by Johnson and Rivera, to today’s queer mutual aid networks, this sense of shared struggle and mutual support remains central to queer survival and success.
OUTober’s events, such as Georgetown University’s celebrations of National Coming Out Day and educational panels2, honour this legacy by fostering a sense of togetherness, reflection, and forward momentum. Each gathering is a reminder that our community thrives not because we operate as individuals, but because we uphold one another as a community bound by shared history, love, resilience, and solidarity.
OUTober: Why the Fight Continues
Though we celebrate the progress of the past, the work of our trans elders is far from finished. Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation continues to threaten our community’s rights, with more than 530 bills introduced in 2024 alone, disproportionately targeting trans people3 4. As trans youth face increasing discrimination and violence, the need to draw on the strength of our trans elders is more urgent than ever. They taught us that the fight for equality is never over—and that true liberation requires collective effort.
The Power of Visibility and Resistance
OUTober, anchored by National Coming Out Day, serves as a powerful reminder that visibility itself is a form of resistance. When trans elders came out, they did so at great personal risk, paving the way for future generations to live more openly. Visibility, then and now, challenges those who seek to silence or erase queer identities from the public sphere.
As we celebrate this month, we are reminded of the power of resistance. The act of being seen—whether on a Pride float, at a rally, or simply in everyday life—is a continuation of the fight our trans elders began. It is our responsibility to keep this fight alive, ensuring that future generations inherit a world where they can thrive without fear of erasure or repression.
OUTober: Celebrating the Past, Protecting the Future
OUTober is a time for celebration, but also for deep reflection. We owe our current freedoms to the trans elders who fought before us, and it is our duty to continue that fight. LGBTQ+ History Month is not just about looking back at how far we’ve come—it’s about ensuring that the foundations laid by our elders remain strong as we face new challenges. Now, more than ever, we must remember that progress is collective, and the future of our community depends on us all.
- https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/10/lgbtq-history-month-is-celebrated-around-the-world-it-all-started-with-one-man-a-dream/ ↩︎
- https://www.georgetown.edu/news/celebrating-lgbtq-history-month-outober-2024/ ↩︎
- https://www.healthday.com/health-news/mental-health/restrictive-state-laws-tied-to-higher-suicide-risk-for-trans-youth ↩︎
- https://translegislation.com/ ↩︎