October 1st-31st
History
October is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History Month in the United States. It was first observed in 1994. October was selected because it coincides with National Coming Out Day on October 11, and because it is the month of the first March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979. More recently, in October 2010, Spirit Day was established in response to a string of high-profile teen suicides that year. The goal is to raise awareness about bullying of LGBT youth. Source: https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/lgbt-history-month
2025 LGBTQ+ History Month Event Calendar
2025 events will begin appearing on 9/25/2025.
These are the events that are hosted by or participated in by Mason entities:
| Date | Event Name | Event Time | Event Location | Sponsoring Organizations | Registration (if applicable) | Description (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, October 8th, 2025 | Dyke Delusions: Essays and Observations | 12:00pm-1:00pm | Available on Website | Fall for the Book; Women and Gender Studies | Learn More Here | Essayist Samantha Mann is back with Dyke Delusions: Essays & Observations, the follow up to her highly-regarded book Putting Out: Essays on Otherness. In her latest essay collection, Mann blends personal history and pop culture to discuss body politics, motherhood, and feminine sexuality, all with her one-of-a-kind humor and incisiveness. Podcaster Julie Bashkin says, “Samantha Mann is raw, honest, vulnerable, and completely relatable.” Claudia Cabello Hutt, Associate Professor of Women and Gender Studies and Philosophy, will moderate this conversation. Sponsored by Women and Gender Studies. |
| Thursday, October 9th, 2025 | Songs of No Provenance | 12:00pm-1:00pm | Available on Website | Fall for the Book | Learn More Here | Lydi Conklin’s debut novel, Songs of No Provenance, is a fascinating character study of an indie folk singer who flees to a rural writing camp after a massive career misstep. The book examines issues of trans nonbinary identity, queer baiting and appropriation, and questions whether a work of art can truly ever be separate from the artist. Author Carmen Maria Machado says, “Conklin has gathered up slippery ideas about art-making and desire and mentorship and gender and plunged an antihero for the ages through the heart of them all. Songs of No Provenance is a raw, empathetic novel of exceptional power.” Satori Good, fiction MFA fiction candidate at George Mason and Editor in Chief of So to Speak, will moderate this conversation. |
| Thursday, October 9th, 2025 | All Together Queer with the QT BIPOC Initiative | 5:00pm-7:00pm | Available on Mason360 | Counseling and Psychological Services; LGBTQ+ Resources Center; QT BIPOC Initiative; The Ridge (Housing and Residence Life) | Register Here on Mason360 | All Together Queer is a communal space designed for students to connect with the LGBTQ+ community and build relationships through shared experiences and activities. |
| Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 | More than a Moment: Paint and Sip | 5:00pm-7:30pm | Available on Mason360 | Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement; Latino Alumni Chapter; LGBTQ+ Resources Center; Mason Exhibitions | Register Here on Mason360 | In collaboration with Mason Exhibitions, The Latino Alumni Chapter, LGBTQ+ Resources Center, the CLIE presents More than a Moment. The idea of the ‘More than a Moment’ series offers students to not only learn about cultures it also offers attendees the opportunity to engage with the content through various mediums. During the October featured event we will dive into belonging, safety, community, trust while creating some art! This session will be led by Sol O’Neill. Refreshment will be provided. |
| Thursday, October 30th, 2025 | LGBTQ+ History Month Lecture and Book Talk | 2:30pm-3:30pm | Available on Mason360 | LGBTQ+ Resources Center; Women and Gender Studies | Register Here on Mason360 | Join Dr. Sam Huneke (Associate Professor, Department of History and Art History) to learn about the experiences of queer women in Nazi Germany. Dr. Huneke will discuss how these women faced persecution while resisting a facist regime. |
| Thursday, October 30th, 2025 | All Together Queer | 5:00pm-7:00pm | Available on Mason360 | Counseling and Psychological Services; LGBTQ+ Resources Center; The Ridge (Housing and Residence Life) | Register Here on Mason360 | All Together Queer is a communal space designed for students to connect with the LGBTQ+ community and build relationships through shared experiences and activities. |