Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History month is underway at San Jacinto College Central Campus.

History month, hosted by Student Life at Central Campus, centers around the successes and struggles of life in the LGBT community.

Angie Langdon, the Student Life Advisor for the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at Central Campus said the month long celebration is centered on raising awareness.

“The goal of History month is to provide a fun and educational way to learn about the LGBT lifestyle.  We are not in a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ society anymore,” Langdon said.

The GSA, formed in 2009 at San Jac, was created to reach out to both communities in an effort to teach acceptance, not just tolerance among the student body.

Central Campuses’ newly elected GSA President, Karina Soto, said she is pleased with the advances the LGBT community has made, and the opportunities History month at San Jac Central has to offer.

“I’m very proud of all of the support we are receiving from Student Life and the GSA,” Soto said. “We are so excited for what’s to come.  It’s amazing to see how society is much more accepting and how it continues to change for the better each day.”

“MILK,” the first of three screenings at Central Campus offering a firsthand look at the hardships the gay community went thru while paving the road for success, will be shown Oct. 15.

A candlelight vigil at 7:00 p.m. in the North Courtyard will follow.

“Monsters U,” and “Rent,” which also demonstrate the adversities of gay life, will be shown Oct. 17.

Events such as themed trivia, the distribution of rainbow colored bracelets, free hugs, and tie-dyeing bandanas offer a lighter, more hands-on way to learn the history of the LGBT community.

The month-long celebration at Central Campus will culminate with Post Secrets, the public display of secrets written anonymously on postcards by the student body and faculty and posted on a wall Oct 28 – Nov. 1.

“Everyone has a secret they want to get off their chest,” Langdon said.