Icons of Science in the LGBT Community

LGBT History Month is a month-long annual observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements.  LGBT History Month provides role models, builds community, and makes the civil rights statement about our extraordinary national and international contributions.

This month, CBD College celebrates exceptional scientists in the LGBT community.

Meet Angela Clayton:

Born: 1959

Died: January 8, 2014

Origin:  United Kingdom

“Angela Helen Clayton MBE, is a campaigner for the rights of transsexual people. Based in the United Kingdom, she is a physicist by profession. After early traumatic experiences when she approached medics for help with her transsexualism, she finally transitioned without medical support and only engaged once more with medics to obtain surgery after several years living as a woman.  Ms. Clayton has been working with the trans campaigning organization Press for Change since 1999. She took a close interest in the role of trade unions in promoting equality for trans people in the workplace and in 2002 became the first “trans observer” to the UK Trades Union Congress (TUC) LGBT Committee when it added trans people to its remit. She has continued to work with trade unions and has served three terms as a member of the TUC LGBT Committee.”

Meet Bruce Voeller:

Born: May 12, 1934

Died: February 13, 1994

Origin: Minneapolis

“American biologist and AIDS researcher who pioneered the use of nonoxynol-9 as a spermicide and topical virus-transmission preventative. He established the Mariposa Foundation to conduct human sexuality research, placing special emphasis on reducing the risks of sexually transmitted diseases. At the time of his death, Voeller’s research centered on the reliability of various brands of condoms in preventing the spread of diseases, and on viral leakage studies for the then-recently approved ‘female condom’. “