Just a quick heads-up - this month's article is a little heavy, so if that's not something you're up for, feel free to turn the page!

Did you know that October is actually LGBTQ+ History Month? While Pride is typically celebrated in June, October is the official LGBTQ+ History Month. It was initially started in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, a high school teacher from Missouri, to coincide with both National Coming Out Day on October 11th and with the first march in Washington for LGBTQ+ rights in 1979. It now also includes Spirit Day on October 20th, where people wear purple to show support for the LGBTQ+ community. We also remember the death of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay man who was kidnapped and brutally beaten on October 7th and died from his injuries on October 12th, 1998. Shepard's death was something that affected me a lot as another young queer person, and today I'd like to share a little about both his life and how it changed mine.

Matthew Shepard was born in Casper, Wyoming on December 1st, 1976. In his junior year, his family moved to Saudi Arabia, but as there were no American schools in Saudi Arabia at the time, he had to go to Switzerland for the last two years. His fellow students found him friendly and easy to talk to, so much so that they elected him to be a peer counselor. When he graduated, he studied political science, foreign languages, and foreign relations at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. His life was positive and promising, and was ended far too soon.

I was fifteen when Matthew Shepard was murdered. I had just started my sophomore year of high school, and at the time was still really unsure about my identity and sexuality. While I knew that there was nothing wrong with being LGBTQ+, the kids I went to school with were generally pretty hostile toward anyone who was even slightly different. I was already a target due to my weight and other things - the idea of being singled out and what could happen if people found out that I liked girls was terrifying. When I learned of Shepard's death, it changed something in me. I was still terrified, but it made me want to try to do something - anything - to stop things like that from happening.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for many LGBTQ+ folks to experience threats and acts of violence against them in today's world. There are still many countries in which being LGBTQ+ can result in being ostracized, jailed, or even killed by authorities. It's why the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and equality is still not over, and we must continue to work together to make the world a safer and more accepting place for everyone. Those of you who want to make a change for the better, I encourage you to look for ways you can help in your community if you feel safe doing so. You can look for local LGBTQ+ resource or community centers and youth groups in your area or visit places like The Trevor Project online to connect with other LGBTQ+ youth around the world. You can volunteer in your community, use your vote to make changes in elections, or write to your government officials. Together, we can change the world for the better.

This month, I'm here to update you on the latest inspiring and positive LGBTQ+ news and developments that are helpful or inspiring in the LGBTQ+ community. First off, we'll talk about Mexico's same-sex marriage laws. Then, we'll move on to a historical landmark in Milwaukee. Let's dive right in!

Please note that there will be discussion of discrimination, transphobia, and homophobia. If this is content that can be triggering for you, please be careful as you read on.

The State of Mexico, which is the largest state in Mexico and surrounds Mexico City, passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. On October 11th, it became the twenty-ninth Mexican state to do this, leaving only three left to make this change. Bills aiming to legalize same-sex marriage in the State of Mexico were introduced in 2013 and 2015, but neither were brought to a vote. This is incredibly exciting news for the state and the country. It's always wonderful to see legislative progress for the LGBTQ+ community.

Now, let's turn our focus to Milwaulkee. On August 5th, 1961, an uprising occurred against LGBTQ+ oppression. This may have been the first one ever in the United States. It occurred at a gay bar called the Black Nite, and was led by Josie Carter, a trans woman of colour. This was during a time when Milwaukee had an anti-cross-dressing law that allowed police to stop trans people to check that they were wearing clothing that aligned with their assigned sex at birth. All this to say, Josie Carter and her fellow protesters were brave in the face of discrimination.

This October, the Black Nite was set to be named an official landmark in Milwaukee. Acknowledging and celebrating the strong, influential LGBTQ+ folk who came before us is important. They helped forge the path for the progress that we see and are taking action towards now!

That's all I have for you this time. See you next time, where we will hopefully have more lovely news to share with you!