Are you looking for a resource to track all LGBTQIA+ holidays in the calendar year? Look no further. LGBTQIA+ awareness months and days are an excellent way to create visibility for the community and the struggles they have overcome. Read below to find out ways to raise support for marginalized groups and educate yourself on how to be a better ally to the LGBTQIA+ community all year long.
FEBRUARY:
LGBTQIA+ History Month
February 20-26| Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week
Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, or ASAW, is dedicated to spreading awareness and acceptance of the Aromantic spectrum and its identities. This was first celebrated as a means for aromantic people to find community during a widely celebrated romantic holiday.
MARCH:
Bisexual Health Awareness Month
March is the month recognized to bring awareness to the Bisexual+ community and highlight the disparities facing bi people when it comes to their health and healthcare spaces. To learn more about the best sexual practices for the Bi+ community and inclusive behavior for providers, click here.
March 31| International Transgender Day of Visibility
APRIL:
The date varies| Day of Silence
The Day of Silence (DOS) is a student-led movement that supports diminishing violence and bullying aimed at the LGBTQIA+ community. This day was initially created as a project on non-violent protests and continued to be recognized because of its ever-growing popularity. For more information on DOS and to print out “speaking cards,” click here.
April 3- April 9| National Deaf LGBTQIA+ Week
National Deaf LGBTQIA+ Awareness week aims to increase visibility and awareness about marginalized Deaf LGBTQ+ communities. It also serves as a way for Deaf LGBTQIA+ youth to find mentorship and friendship within the community. Learn more about their cause here.
April 6| International Asexuality Day
International Asexuality Day is a worldwide campaign promoting the celebration of the Asexual (Ace) umbrella. The four themes of this day include advocacy, celebration, education, and solidarity.
April 18| National Transgender HIV Testing
Every year this day is recognized to promote the yearly routine of HIV testing, status awareness, and continued protection against HIV and treatment in transgender and non-binary people. This recognition was established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the University of San Francisco Transgender Center of Excellence.
April 26| Lesbian Visibility Day
MAY:
May 17| International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
May 18| World AIDS Vaccine Day
This day is used to acknowledge the many volunteers, community members, healthcare workers, and scientists working to find a safe and effective way to prevent the spread of HIV.
May 19| Agender Pride Day
May 21| World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
May 22| Harvey Milk Day
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected into public office. After coming out, he was an advocate who spoke out against discrimination against gay and lesbian business owners. The Briggs Initiative was a prominent topic of his advocacy which allowed gay and lesbian people to continue working in California schools. Before his life was cut short, Harvey was responsible for passing gay rights ordinances for San Francisco. To learn more about the life and legacy of Harvey Milk, click here.
May 24| Pansexual and Panromantic Visibility Day
This day is set to celebrate those who identify as Pansexual and Panromantic, meaning they seek partnership with people regardless of their gender identity or biological sex.
JUNE:
LGBTQIA+ Pride Month
June 5| HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day
HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day is a time to celebrate the life and resilience of people who have been living with HIV/AIDS since the start of the epidemic on its anniversary. This day highlights the challenges long-term HIV survivors have faced and creates quality-of-life changes for those living with AIDS. This day also acts as a means of awareness for AIDS Survivor Syndrome (ASS), which affects survivors.
June 12| Pulse Night of Remembrance
This is an evening of quiet remembrance for the people killed and the families affected during the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting.
June 26| LGBTQIA+ Equality Day
Considering three major Supreme Court cases and their rulings falling on June 26, this day has been deemed LGBTQIA+ Equality Day. The three court cases are Lawrence v. Texas, in which the court ruled the state could no longer criminalize the private conduct of same-sex couples. The second is the United States v. Windsor, which ruled that same-sex couples who were legally married in their state have the right to the benefits and protections provided by marriage under federal law. Finally, Obergefell v. Hodges legitimized same-sex marriage. This day is to celebrate and commemorate how far we have come regarding LGBTQIA+ rights.
June 26| Anniversary of Legalization of Gay Marriage in the U.S
June 27| National HIV Testing Day
June 28| Stonewall Riots Anniversary
In the 1960s, bars and other establishments outlawed the solicitation of same-sex couples. For such reasons, LGBTQIA+ individuals would flock to gay bars where they could let loose and be themselves. Police regularly raided bars and clubs, and Stonewall was no different. Fed up with police harassment, patrons of the Stonewall Inn started to riot, and their activism was life-altering for LGBTQIA+ political advocation.
JULY:
July 6| Omnisexual Visibility Day
People who identify as Omnisexual experience attraction to those of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Omnisexual Visibility Day hopes to bring visibility and understanding to the Omnisexual community.
July 14| International Non-Binary People’s Day
AUGUST:
August 9| International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous Peoples Day is an inclusive alternative to Columbus Day. On this day, it is imperative not to forget about people who identify as Two-Spirit (2S). Two-Spirit people are included and respected members of their communities, and unfortunately, colonization attempted erasure of the Two-Spirit People. Two-Spirit individuals identify as having both a masculine and feminine spirit.
SEPTEMBER:
September 19-23| Bisexual Awareness Week
September 23| Celebrate Bisexual Day
OCTOBER:
LGBTQIA+ History Month
October 11| National Coming Out Day
October 12| Matthew Shepard’s Death Anniversary
Matthew Shepard was a 21-year-old man who was brutally attacked for being homosexual. Following his death, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was passed in 2009 to investigate and prosecute hate crimes more effectively. Click here to learn more about Matthew Shepard and The Laramie Project.
October 19| International Pronouns Day
International Pronouns Day seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. To read more about why using the proper pronouns are important, click here.
October 23-29| Asexual Awareness Week
NOVEMBER:
November 7-11 Solidarity (Ally) Week
Solidarity Week is a student-run campaign dedicated to creating conversation and collective support for LGBTQIA+ students and educators.
November 8| Intersex Day of Remembrance
November 8th is the birthday of Herculine Barbin, a French intersex person whose memoirs increased in popularity once translated. This day is observed to bring focus on issues faced by intersex people and the need for reflection and political action. To learn more about what issues intersex people face, click here.
November 13-19| Transgender Awareness Week
November 20| Transgender Day of Remembrance
Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed annually to memorialize those murdered due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. This day is held in November to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was murdered in 1998. Her death started the “Remembering Our Dead” project, which soon blossomed into its current name. To learn more about Rita, and her monumental contribution to remembering trans folx, click here.
November 22| Club Q
On November 22, 2022, Club Q in Colorado Springs was the scene of a deadly shooting. Five people lost their lives, and this day is a way of remembering those we lost. This tragedy will continue to serve as a reminder to continue to better the safety, community, and families of trans people.
DECEMBER:
December 1| World AIDS Day
December 8| Pansexual Pride Day
Resources:
Looking to support the LGBTQIA+ community? Here are some wonderful charities and foundations that you can donate to.
The Trevor Project
Help ensure that The Trevor Project’s trained counselors are always a free call, text, or chat away for LGBTQIA+ young people in crisis.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation seeks to fundamentally change the way LGBTQIA+ people are treated in our everyday lives.
Family Equality
Family Equality has spent more than 40 years ensuring that everyone has the freedom to find, form, and sustain their families by advancing equality for the LGBTQIA+ community.
National Center for Transgender Equality
The National Center for Transgender Equality advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people.
Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network
GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQIA+ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.
American Civil Liberties Union
In partnership with Spencer’s every year during Pride, the ACLU dares to create a more perfect union — beyond one person, party, or side.
