PHILADELPHIA -- Equality Forum has announced its roundup of 2012 LGBT History Month icons.

Each day in October, the organization celebrates the month by spotlighting one LGBT individual -- past or present -- that has made notable contributions to the community and society.

The program includes photos, video, biographical material and other educational resources that can be viewed and shared online. As it has done for the last two years, SDGLN will share these icons each day in our Causes section, starting Oct. 1.

“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.

The full list of icons for 2012 includes:

Roberta Achtenberg – Government

Gloria Anzaldua – Author

Ann Bannon – Author

Katherine Lee Bates – “America the Beautiful” Songwriter

Mary Bonauto – Lawyer

Glenn Burke – Athlete

Paul Cadmus – Artist

Truman Capote – Novelist

Chris Colfer – Actor

Kate Clinton – Comedian

Ramon Cortines – Educator

Marlene Dietrich – Actor

Jodie Foster – Actor/Director

Jean Paul Gaultier – Designer

Henry Gerber – Activist

Billy Haines – Actor

Mary Kay Henry – Labor Activist

Chris Hughes – Facebook Co-founder

Christine Jorgensen – Transgender Pioneer

Arthur Laurents – Playwright/Director

Don Lemon – News Anchor

Federico Garcia Lorca – Poet

Irshad Manji – Muslim Reformist

Katherine Miller – Activist

Holly Near – Singer

RuPaul – Entertainer

Pierre Seel – Holocaust Hero

Billy Strayhorn – Composer

Jon Stryker – Philanthropist

Tom Waddell – Gay Games Founder

The Rev. Robert Wood – Gay Pioneer

Icons are nominated by organizations and the public and are selected by the LGBT History Month Co-chairs and approved by the Equality Forum Board of Directors. The LGBT History Month 2012 Co-chairs are Professor George Chauncey, Chair, History & American Studies Department, Yale University, and Professor Sue Rankin, Education and LGBT Studies, Penn State University.

Check back to SDGLN the coming weeks for more information about LGBT History Month. More information is also available HERE.