🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ History Month : Why October Matters

A Month of Pride, History & Reflection

The reason for coming out day being on october 11th

October may be known for pumpkins, costumes, and spooky nights, but for the LGBTQ+ community it’s much more: it’s a month dedicated to history, visibility, and solidarity.

Across the U.S., Canada, and parts of Australia, October is LGBTQ+ History Month — a time to spotlight queer stories, honor pioneers, and celebrate identities too often erased from mainstream narratives.

Unlike Pride Month in June, which emphasizes celebration, October invites education and reflection. It’s about weaving queer voices into history itself.

Why October?

• Founded in 1994 by Missouri high school teacher Rodney Wilson, LGBTQ+ History Month was designed to give students and communities a chance to learn queer history as part of the broader cultural record.

• October was chosen because it already contained National Coming Out Day (October 11) and tied closely to key marches and activism in U.S. queer history.

• Today, the month is observed in multiple countries — though in the UK, LGBTQ+ History Month is celebrated in February.

  
  

Key LGBTQ+ Days in October

Here are the most important queer observances that fall during October. (Each will get its own detailed blog post!)

🌸 October 8: International Lesbian Day

A global day recognizing lesbian culture, history, and visibility. While it’s particularly celebrated in Australia and New Zealand, the spirit is international: centering lesbian voices and stories.

A nwsletter from LOOT in 1979

🏳️‍🌈 October 11: National Coming Out Day

Established in 1988, this day honors the power of visibility and supports those who are coming out. The date was chosen to commemorate the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1987.

Fun fact: The Human Rights Campaign’s “Coming Out Project” in the 1990s turned this into a national movement.

💜 Spirit Day (Third Thursday in October)

Started in 2010 by Canadian teen Brittany McMillan, Spirit Day is dedicated to standing against LGBTQ+ bullying and supporting queer youth. On this day, millions wear purple — the color symbolizing “spirit” on the Pride flag.

🔮 October 16–21: Asexual Awareness Week

A week to spotlight asexual, demisexual, and gray-asexual identities. This observance raises visibility, busts myths, and uplifts ace community voices.

✨ October 26: Intersex Awareness Day

This day raises awareness about intersex rights, bodily autonomy, and medical ethics. It commemorates the first public demonstration by intersex activists in Boston in 1996.

How to Celebrate October

Here are some meaningful ways to mark the month:

• Share daily queer history facts on social media.

• Host a purple-themed Spirit Day campaign at your workplace or school.

• Highlight local queer figures or businesses on your blog or socials.

• Create a queer reading or film list for the month.

• Support intersex and ace organizations with donations or signal-boosting.

• Lean into the spooky season with a “Queer Halloween” series on ghost stories, horror films, and folklore with queer connections.

October Meets Halloween

October also gives the LGBTQ+ community a natural tie-in to Halloween. Costumes and masquerade have long been safe spaces for gender play, queerness, and camp. In many ways, Halloween has been a queer holiday all along — one where bold self-expression becomes the norm.

This year, we’ll also be exploring the Top 10 Halloween Parties in the World (outside Toronto) with individual blog posts counting down to October 31.

Final Thoughts

October is more than just a season of falling leaves and candy corn. For LGBTQ+ people, it’s a month of pride, remembrance, and solidarity. Whether you’re learning queer history for the first time, celebrating your own journey, or supporting youth and allies, October offers countless opportunities to engage.

So pull on your purple sweater, share a queer story, and let’s make this October one to remember.