Various dates and anniversaries this month to keep in mind as we all work on important issues:

-- Five years ago yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to authorize the military force against Iraq. At 3:05 pm on Oct. 10, 2002, the House registered a 296-133 vote in approval of Bush’s request.

-- Nine years ago tomorrow Matthew Wayne Shepard died.  He was a student at the University of Wyoming who was fatally attacked near Laramie because he was gay.  Shepard was robbed, pistol whipped, tied to a fence in a remote, rural area, and left to die.

-- Nineteen years ago today, the first ever National Coming Out Day was held in Washington, DC.  The day was founded by Dr. Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary in 1988, in celebration of the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights one year earlier, in which 500,000 people marched on Washington, DC, USA, for gay and lesbian equality.

-- October has been a deadly month for transgender individuals.  Stephen Morris was killed on October 14th, 1995, and many other victims can be found here.

Thanks for everything that you all do!