P H I L A D E L P H I A , PENNSYLVANIA – The nonprofit Equality Forum announced its 31 Icons for LGBT History Month 2012, which commences in October, in addition to 186 other iconic figures of LGBT history from the past decade. “The 217 Icons, including the 31 Icons for 2012, demonstrate the impressive and diverse international impact of the LGBT community,” said Malcolm Lazin, founder of LGBT History Month, and Executive Director of Equality Forum.

Icons named for LGBT History Month 2012 include U.S. Civil Rights Commissioner Roberta Achtenberg, novelist Truman Capote, songwriter Katherine Lee Bates (“America the Beautiful”), actors Chris Colfer, Jodie Foster, and Marlene Dietrich, athlete Glenn Burke, Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, Transgender pioneer Christine Jorgensen, entertainer Rupaul, and Holocaust hero Pierre Seel.X

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan launched LGBT History Month in 2010. Each day in October, an Icon is featured with a video, biography, bibliography, downloadable images and other educational resources. These resources are available without charge at lgbthistorymonth.com.