Founder of LGBTQ History Month, Missouri's First Openly Gay K-12 Teacher, & LGBTQ Rights Advocate

Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher, founded LGBTQ History Month in 1994 to spotlight LGBTQ history and contributions, which he felt were often overlooked in traditional education. Rodney, then a history teacher at Mehlville High School near St. Louis, openly shared his sexuality with students during a Holocaust lesson, discussing how he would have been persecuted as a gay man during that era. This moment marked him as Missouri's first openly gay K-12 teacher and set the stage for a broader mission: advocating for visibility and education about LGBTQ history.

Rodney was inspired by the success of Black History Month and Women’s History Month and worked with educators and advocates to establish a similar month dedicated to LGBTQ history, choosing October partly to align with National Coming Out Day. Established in 1995, Rodney was able to bring media attention to the then, Gay History Month, through articles, film festivals and other initiatives. Newsweek was the first mainstream media platform to cover the cause.

This month-long observance has since grown nationally, receiving formal recognition from the National Education Association in 1995 and later from President Obama in 2009. Today, LGBTQ History Month celebrates the contributions of LGBTQ individuals across fields, honours milestones in LGBTQ rights, and encourages visibility and understanding within educational settings and beyond. Despite the backlash Rodney faced, he persevered to help those who needed help and support just as he did when came out to that classroom. In 2019, Rodney was featured in the documentary, Taboo Teaching.

On the 30th Anniversary of LGBTQ History Month, Rodney has been interviewed by various media outlets such as PBS News, LGBTQ Nation, and several other about why observing LGBTQ History Month is vital. A proponent of diversity & inclusion and preserving LGBTQ rights, Rodney Wilson is available to hire as a keynote speaker. He is the perfect addition to any LGBTQ related event that is designed to celebrate queer stories. Enquire today!

Social Media

How to hire Rodney Wilson

Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Rodney Wilson for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.

LGBT History Month Speakers

Enquire Now

** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.