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2023 LGBT Icons

LGBT History Month


LGBT History Month celebrates the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Icons. Each day in October, a new LGBT Icon is featured with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images and other resources. Note: all icon selection is by Equality Forum. For questions or comments, please contact LGBT History Month.

Nominations for 2020 Icons

Equality Forum is accepting nominations for LGBT History Month 2020 Icons. Submit your nomination here. The deadline for submissions is Friday, December 7, 2019.

Selection Criteria

Each year 31 LGBT Icons, living or dead, are selected for achievements in their field of endeavor; for their status as a national hero; or for their significant contribution to LGBT civil rights. Equality Forum solicits nominations from regional, state, national and international organizations, activists, and the public. LGBT History Month co-chairs Anne Balay and Ken Lustbader review all nominations and recommend the annual Icons.

For more information about this annual event and additional resources, such as posters, DVDs, etc., visit LGBTHistoryMonth.com

2023 Icons

  1. Ethel Allen
  2. Kwame Anthony Appiah
  3. Gladys Bentley
  4. Jackie Biskupski
  5. Kate Bornstein
  6. Ana Brnabic
  7. Pete Buttigieg
  8. Eliza Byard
  9. Brandi Carlile
  10. George Chauncey
  11. Lou Chibbaro Jr.
  12. Sharice Davids
  13. Babe Didrickson
  14. Cheryl Dunye
  15. Lillian Faderman
  16. Ronan Farrow
  1. Jewelle Gomez
  2. Emma González
  3. Sherenté Harris
  4. Rock Hudson
  5. Robert Indiana
  6. James Ivory
  7. Anne Lister
  8. Arthur Mitchell
  9. Julia Morgan
  10. Anaraa Nyamdorj
  11. Jared Polis
  12. Angela Ponce
  13. Keshav Suri
  14. Lillian Wald
  15. Edith Wharton
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