Each October in the United States, we celebrate LGBT History Month, which is a time to reflect on notable people who contributed to raising awareness of and support for the LGBTQ+ community by demanding equality and helping to advance rights. It all began in 1994 when Missouri high school history teacher Rodney Wilson proposed the annual month-long commemoration in October, inspired by the growing popularity of National Coming Out Day on October 11th established in the 1980s and by the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, which took place October 14, 1979 (Lee, 2021). We, of course, remember history’s LGBT well-known icons, such as Marsha P. Johnson and Harvey Milk. This month is also a good reminder to honor the lesser-known talented young activists who are making history now.

One such notable young person who is making a difference is Harleigh Walker, who just over a year ago at the age of 16 testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary in support of gender-affirming care. Harleigh is a transgender girl from Alabama who is standing up to fight against discriminatory healthcare laws in her home state and against hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community in general. During her testimony, she pointedly stated, “The laws preventing people like me from having access to the health care that our doctors and parents agree is necessary to keep us healthy don’t keep us safe. They do the opposite” (Figueroa, 2023). See her five-minute testimony here.

Another young activist is Will Larkins, who two years ago at the age of 17 in response to Florida’s notorious Parental Rights in Education law, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law, posted a video that went viral of themself giving their class a history lesson about the 1969 Stonewall uprising (Valle, 2022). Watch the NBC News interview with Will about their viral video here. Will also cofounded their high school’s Queer Student Union and helped organized the student body in a “Say Gay Anyway” walkout. That year, they also wrote about their opposition to the law in an op-ed piece published in The New York Times, and delivered a keynote speech to Harvard Law School’s 2022 Youth Summit (GLAAD, 2023). 

And then there is Rebekah Bruesehoff, a 17-year-old transgender author and activist who has been advocating for the rights and safety of transgender young people since she was 10 years old. Over the years, she has spoken at press conferences, met with legislators, created videos to promote education and understanding of trans issues, and has been interviewed on Good Morning America (Bruesehoff, 2023). Enjoy a video package about Rebekah’s accomplishments that aired on The View here.

Talented young leaders like these rise to prominence in part because of the caring adults behind the scenes who recognize their strengths and help them find opportunities to shine. As gifted education practitioners and leaders, we understand the need for empowering students with talents. It is almost always the case, however, that even the most talented young people still require ongoing guidance and support. Think of Olympic athletes who are the top in their sport; each athlete needs a coach to continually provide feedback and push them toward improvement in addition to setting up opportunities for them to showcase their talents. Young gifted leaders need the same. As Ogurlu & Sevim (2017) found, “leadership training is a necessity for gifted students…(that) contributes to improving self-esteem.” Often, teaching leadership involves teaching students how to self advocate. Douglas (2021) stated that “self advocacy is a critical skill that empowers students to speak up, set their own goals, and find support in realizing their dreams.” Leadership and advocacy go hand in hand, and it is our role to ensure that we teach young leaders how to advocate.

What commemoration months like LGBT History Month teach us is the continual need for visibility, positive messages, and inspiring acts of courage. Our young gifted and talented LGBTQ+ leaders-in-training have to learn how to lead, how to capitalize on opportunity, how to navigate the system, how to advocate appropriately, and how to inspire and effect change. Having a structure in school, such as a leadership program or a GSA (Gender-Sexualities Alliance or Gay-Straight Alliance) group can help foster gifted LGBTQ+ leadership skills. Renn (2007) found that “involvement in LGBT organizations… connects leadership and identity… (leading) to increased visibility as LGBT and increased sense of responsibility for leadership or activism,” and that “increased identity development (contributes) to increased willingness to take on leadership and be visible on and off campus.” Even the more prevalent and positive representations of LGBTQ+ characters in pop culture media in recent years has helped young gifted leaders with visibility. “Seeing themselves authentically represented in the media helps LGBTQ+ children and young people validate their experiences. And it fosters a society in which they feel comfortable being their true selves” (Cruz, 2024). For instance, in the 2022 Disney animated feature film, Strange World, protagonist Ethan Clade is an openly gay teen who develops self confidence and leadership skills throughout his adventure. All other characters outright accept Ethan’s sexuality (Ethan being gay is treated as a usual or typical state of being), and the movie portrays different leadership styles as all being valid. It is an excellent lesson in humanizing, rather than questioning or antagonizing, LGBTQ+ identity and differentiated approaches to leadership.

If this message sings to you, then you have found your people! The NAGC LGBTQ+ network is composed of caring educators who understand and advocate for supporting gifted LGBTQ+ youth. Check out some of our resources that can assist your efforts nurturing gifted LGBTQ+ young people during and beyond LGBT History Month:

● Join the LGBTQ+ Network within the National Association for Gifted Children by attending and volunteering at our events, and through contributing to conversations in Engage.
● Help us remember those LGBTQ+ individuals who have transformed the world in the face of discrimination and oppression. 
● Display and use your talents to creatively protest and resist unjust legislation and bigotry. 
● Engage teachers and learners in the GLSEN survey of school climate for LGBTQ+ Learners to provide current and accurate information of the status of LGBTQ+ rights in your school

In closing, it is vitally important that we all continue to provide opportunities and support for young talented LGBTQ+ activists. They need to play a role in shaping their own paths, especially as pockets of society and politics actively seek to belittle or dehumanize them. As Rebekah Bruesehoff wrote, “Everyday people sit in rooms without us trying to make decisions for us and about us. But we’re here. We have voices, and our voices matter. This is about our lives and our future.”


References

Bruesehoff, R. (2023, October 19). Sometimes I feel like I live in two different worlds. Advocate. https://www.advocate.com/voices/trans-girl-activist-worlds 

Cruz, E. (2024, June 5). LGBTQ+ portrayal in the media: Are young people seeing themselves represented? Action for Children. https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/blog/representation-matters-are-lgbtq-young-people-seeing-themselves-represented-in-the-media/ 

Douglas, D. (2021, September 16). The Superpower of Self Advocacy. Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted Students. https://www.sengifted.org/post/the-superpower-of-self-advocacy#:~:text=Self%2Dadvocacy%20is%20a%20critical,support%20in20realizing%20their%20dreams

Figueroa, A. & Alabama Reflector. (2023, June 21). Trans Alabama teen Harleigh Walker testifies before Senate panel: ‘Lobbying for my right to exist’. Advance Local Media. https://www.al.com/news/2023/06/trans-alabama-teen-harleigh-walker-testifies-before-senate-panel-lobbying-for-my-right-to-exist.html 

GLAAD. (2023, September 9). GLAAD’s Third Annual 20 Under 20. https://glaad.org/20-under-20/2022/ 
 
International Committee on LGBTQ+ History Months. (2024, April 15). History Months. https://www.internationallgbtqhm.com/history-months/ 

Lee, J.M. (2021, June 1). Why do we celebrate Pride Month in June and LGBT History Month in October? University of Central Florida. https://www.ucf.edu/news/why-do-we-celebrate-pride-month-in-june-and-lgbt-history-month-in-october/ 

Ogurlu, U., & Sevim, M.N. (2017). The Opinions of Gifted Students about Leadership Training. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 4(2), 41-52. https://unco.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/opinions-gifted-students-about-leadership/docview/2017951341/se-2

Renn, K.A. (2007). LGBT Student Leaders and Queer Activists: Identities of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Identified College Student Leaders and Activists. Journal of College Student Development 48(3), 311-330.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/csd.2007.0029

Valle, J. (2022, June 1). Florida student activist Will Larkins says LGBTQ youth are 'the future.' NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/nbc-out-proud/florida-student-activist-will-larkins-says-lgbtq-youth-are-future-rcna28540