Take Action: October is LGBTQIA+ History Month

This Take Action was put together by the 500 Women Scientists Leadership Team. 


There is a long history of marginalized groups working in solidarity with each other—and it is this kind of collaborative support that is critical for moving our society closer to social justice. This past June, Out in Stem reminded us of this history, writing that “we cannot forget that victories of freedom in the United States have been a direct result of movements of civil unrest led by Black people.” Even in the midst of Pride Month, Out in Stem stood in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement and with those fighting to dismantle white supremacy. (For the full statement, click here). 

As we reach the close of LGBTQIA+ history month, we want to remind the 500 Women Scientists community of the importance of remembering that the BLM movement and the LGBTQIA+ movement are inextricably connected. As Professor David Green recently wrote (emphasis added), 

“While Black Lives Matter...very much disrupts anti-black publics, its living legacy as a contemporary political movement can be traced to black queer activism, writing and public speeches that book-end twentieth century US politics and freedom movements.”

Support of one group requires supporting the other and is needed now more than ever. For example, transgender people of all races are facing new political and social obstacles and fighting for equal rights every day. On June 12, 2020, the Trump administration reversed non-discrimination protections for transgender people in healthcare. Since October 6, 2020, there have been 31 recorded killings of transgender and gender non-conforming people in the U.S. according to the Human Rights Campaign. Out of the 31 murdered, 26 were Black or LatinX women. And on November 4, the Supreme Court will hear arguments for a case with implications for same-sex couples applying to be foster parents.

While we are mindful of the discrimination and harassment that LGBTQIA+ people face, we also want to highlight and celebrate their vast contributions to STEM. Read below for some of these contributions, and continue to learn from and amplify the amazing work the LGBTQIA+ community does every day. 

Take Action:


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Photo by Daniel James on Unsplash

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