If someone asked how America came to be, most students could explain all about the Revolution, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. They could speak at length about how our government works, how the Romans influenced our democracy, about how the British presence is still seen today.

But if someone asked me a single thing on LGBT history, I would stare at them blankly.

October is LGBT History Month, yet I didn’t know that until a week ago. I found out through a social media post, and a quick Google search left me stunned.

How have I never been told about this? Isn’t LGBT history still history?

Every year I have been taught about American History, World History, Government- but never about me. Where did my movement come from?

Who started the fire that has grown into the worldwide human rights campaign it is today? When did I stop being a taboo topic discussed in hushed voices and start to become a person?

If someone asked again, I still wouldn’t be able to give an answer.

History has never been all peaches and cream, sunshine and smiles. It has been dark. Violent. Scary, even. Although not every decision made in the past is agreed with, history is still passed on.

Why? Heroes have risen up against adversity time and time again, whether that may be a tyrannical government, a violation of human rights or an invading country.

These stories are passed down from generations in our history classes because we are inspired by them. We learn from the mistakes made, and we strive to create good like those before us. Why don’t LGBT kids get to see some of their heroes represented too?

What makes us any different?

Some may say religion is a factor. But not everyone follows the same religion or believes in the same values preached by religious groups. By the same virtue, why should LGBT students be treated differently?

It doesn’t make sense. No matter the content of history, it still happened; these events are real and important to learn from.

To erase the past would be practically Orwellian, yet there are still things missing from our history books.

What’s the use of teaching history if it’s censored?