This Explainer defines the term political polarization and provides information on how it impacts US politics and society.

This Explainer is intended to describe key characteristics of the white nationalist ideology and clarify some of the terms surrounding it. It is important to note that many of the beliefs described here are based on false and dangerous assumptions.

With the commencement of Pride Month, Facing History provides a number of resources that help educators explore LGTBQIA+ histories and experiences to ensure these themes remain central beyond this celebratory month.

Find out how Hitler strengthened enforcement of Paragraph 175, a German constitutional law that criminalized same-sex relations between men. 

Learn about the attempts to purge the US military and federal government of gay and lesbian employees during the Cold War and decades later.

On October 10, 1990, the inaugural Gay Pride Festival was held in Johannesburg. Since its inception the festival, highlighting the rights of gays and lesbians, grows in size and magnitude.

Photo of German team at the World Cup covering their mouths in protest of FIFA’s decision to ban the “OneLove” armband.

Marian Drew writes about the strides taken by South African members of the LGBTQIA+ community in earning additional rights after their inclusion in the South African Constitution.

In this personal narrative, a young person shares their experience coming out to family as a gay, Latino, Catholic man and their social justice work at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center.

In order for educators to ensure that LGBTQIA+ histories get their due in the classroom all year long, Facing History provides five reads that reflect on evolving ways of narrating the past, while centering underacknowledged narratives and protagonists who may not have been considered appropriate historical subjects in prior eras. 

Facing History shares ten titles released in the last year that bring important themes in LGBTQIA+ history and contemporary life to the fore, exploring the diverse ways in which this extensive topic is explored by educators, intellectuals, and thought leaders. 

Facing History educator Emily Haines discusses what it's looked like for her to bring her full identity into the classroom.

Facing History staff takes a moment to reflect on personal experiences of being a minority amidst a climate of hate and the ability to use reading as a tool for discovering oneself. 

This award-winning student essay describes a queer student’s journey of stepping into leadership and making an impact as an intern at the LGBTQIA+ Center in Greenwich Village.

This student essay explores the impact of the increasing visibility of gay olympians, particularly at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Learn about the history behind Gay-Straight alliance student groups and GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. 

This student essay captures a gay student’s experience navigating the challenges inherent in being visible as a gay person, as well as the responsibility to honor the sacrifices of movement leaders past by being visible today.

Michelle has been an ally for LGBTQIA+ friends at our school. She has shared how she offered support for a student who wanted to come out as gay.

This article examines the rise of the Asian American movement through the leading voice of Helen Zia, a Chinese American author and activist working at the intersections of struggles for racial and LGBTQ justice, who helped provide a foundation for AAPI-led resistance against racism and violence.

A young woman describes her journey overcoming an inner bully and fear of being different.

Facing History describes the wave of Anti-Transgender legislation happening in the US, and how this affects our trans youth. 

Students at a school in Los Angeles raise awareness about derogatory labels used to describe individuals who immigrated to the United States as well as those who identify as LGBTQIA+.