List of LGBT awareness periods

The following are lists of internationally-recognized and domestically-recognized LGBTIQ+ awareness periods, i.e. awareness days, weeks and months that focus on LGBTIQ+ matters.[1]

See also: List of LGBTQ+ events and List of largest LGBTQ+ events

Internationally-recognized
NameDateYear StartedNotes
Agender Pride Day19 MayA day celebrated internationally[2][3] to promote awareness of agender individuals.[4]
Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week The week after 14 February (Sunday-Saturday)[5] 2014 A week to promote information and awareness about aromantic spectrum identities (“a sexuality within the LGBTQIA+ community in which someone doesn't experience romantic attraction."[6]) and the issues they face.[7] This week was first recognized from 10-17 November 2014, under the name Aromantic Awareness Week. In 2015, it was moved to late February and the name was changed to Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, to be more inclusive of all arospec identities.[8]
Asexual Awareness WeekLast full week in October2010Week to promote awareness of those on the asexual spectrum.[9] It was founded by Sara Beth Brooks in 2010.[10][11]
Bisexual Awareness Week16-22 September2014Also referred to as BiWeek and Bisexual+ Awareness Week.
Celebrate Bisexuality Day23 September1999Also referred to as Bisexual Pride Day, CBD, Bisexual Pride, and Bi Visibility Day.[12]
Drag DayJuly 162009A day that aims to celebrate and recognize the drag art all around the world.[13] Created by Adam Stewart[14] in 2009 through his Facebook fan page[15] for drag queens.[16]
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia17 May2005The main purpose of the 17 May mobilizations is to raise awareness of violence, discrimination, abuse, and repression of LGBT communities worldwide.
Intersex Awareness Day26 October1996Celebrated in October to commemorate the first intersex protest, which took place in Boston, Massachusetts.[17]
Intersex Day of Remembrance8 November[18]2005A day designed to raise awareness of the issues faced by intersex people. It marks the birthday of Herculine Barbin, a French intersex person. The event began as Intersex Solidarity Day, following an invitation issued by Joëlle-Circé Laramée, the then Canadian spokeswoman for Organization Intersex International.[19]
Lesbian Day[20]8 October1980 (NZ) or 1990 (Aus)[21]An annual day celebrating lesbian culture that originated in New Zealand and Australia,[22] but is now celebrated internationally.[23]
Lesbian Visibility Day26 April2008Annual day to celebrate, recognize, and bring visibility to lesbians.[24][25][26]
National Coming Out Day11 October1988[27]A day to celebrate the act of "coming out", i.e. when an LGBT person decides to publicly share their gender identities or sexual orientation.[28] National Coming out Day was founded in the United States by gay rights activists Robert Eichberg and Jean O' Leary on 1988 in Washington, DC, United States. By 1990 it was being celebrated in all 50 states.[29] Although still named "National Coming Out Day", it is currently observed around the world, in countries such as Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Australia also on 11 October, and in the United Kingdom on 12 October.
Non-Binary Awareness Week The week, starting Sunday[30]/Monday,[31] surrounding 14 July 2020[32][33] A week dedicated to those who do not fit within the traditional gender binary,[34] i.e. those who do not exclusively identify as a man or a woman, or who may identify as both a man and a woman, or may fall outside of these categories altogether.[35] Promoted on Twitter as @NBWeek.[36]
Non-Binary People's Day14 July2012An annual day to celebrate and bring visibility to people who are non-binary in the LGBT+ community. The date is the precise midpoint between International Men's Day and International Women's Day.[37]
Pansexual & Panromantic Awareness Day24 May[38]2015An annual day to promote awareness of, and celebrate, pansexual and panromantic identities.
Pronouns DayThe third Wednesday in October2018An annual event that seeks to make sharing, respecting and educating about personal pronouns commonplace.[39][40][41]
Trans Awareness MonthNovember[42][43]A month to celebrate transgender and gender nonconforming communities and to raise awareness for this community through education and advocacy activities.
Trans Awareness Week13-19 November[44]A week to educate about transgender and gender non-conforming people, and the issues associated with their transition and/or identity.
Transgender Day of Remembrance20 November1999Day to memorialize those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia.
Trans Day of Visibility31 March[45]2009[46]A day to celebrate the trans community in a positive light, celebrating their lives and cultural achievements. This observance date was founded in 2009 by transgender activist Rachel Crandall (Michigan, United States),[47] the head of Transgender Michigan,[48] as a reaction to the lack of a day celebrating transgender people.
Trans Parent DayThe first Sunday in November[49]2009[50]A day that celebrates life and the love between transgender parents and their children, and between parents and their transgender children.[51]
World AIDS Day1 December1988A United Nations recognized day[52] that raises awareness across the world and in the community about HIV and AIDS. It is also a day for the community to show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died of AIDS related conditions or other conditions associated with HIV.[53]
Zero Discrimination Day1 March[54]2014A United Nations (UN) recognized day[55] promoting equality before the law, and in practice, throughout all of the member countries of the UN. This day was first celebrated by the UN on 1 March 2014, after UNAIDS (a UN program on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and (AIDS)) propelled its Zero Discrimination Campaign on World AIDS Day in December 2013.[56]

Domestically-recognized

Australia
Name Date Year Started Notes
LGBT History MonthOctober 111994Based on a similarly-named awareness period in the United States, this is a month encouraging openness and education about LGBTI history and rights.
Mardi Gras ParadeThe first Saturday of March1978A day in the annual Mardi Gras festival held in the Australia state of New South Wales which features a pride parade, commemorating the first rally in 1978 where numerous participants were arrested by the police. The current Mardi Gras Parade maintains the original rallies' political flavour, with many of the marching groups and floats promoting LGBTQI rights issues and/or themes.
Wear it Purple DayThe final Friday of August2010A day to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people. The day was co-founded by Katherine Hudson and Scott Williams.[57] Comparable days exist in a number of other countries, including the Netherlands (Purple Friday) and the United States (Spirit Day).

Canada
Name Date Year Started Notes
LGBT History MonthOctober 111994Based on a similarly-named awareness period in the United States, this is a month encouraging openness and education about LGBTI history and rights.

Ireland
Name Date Year Started Notes
Irish Marriage Referendum22 May2015A commemoration of Ireland legalizing same-sex marriage through a plebiscite.

Netherlands
Name Date Year Started Notes
Purple FridayThe second Friday of December2010A day aimed at reducing bullying and increasing inclusivity in schools, using a purple theme in which people are encouraged to wear purple clothes. In December 2010, COC Nederland named the second Friday of December "Paarse Vrijdag" (Dutch: Purple Friday).[58] The Gender Sexuality Alliance Network has continued to celebrate its observance annually since then.[59] Comparable days exist in a number of other countries, including Australia (Wear it Purple Day) and the United States (Spirit Day).

United States
Name Date Year Started Notes
Bisexual Health Awareness Month March 2014 A month to raise awareness about the bisexual+ community's social, economic, and health disparities, advocate for resources, and inspire actions to improve bi+ people's well-being.[60] Promoted on social media through #BiHealthMonth.[61]
Day of SilenceThe second Friday in April1996A student-orientated day to end the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bias. Initially created by then-student Maria Pulzetti, the first event was organized by students at University of Virginia in 1996.[62] It is currently organized by GLSEN. In 1997, one year after the day's creation, it went national, with over 100 institutions participating.[63] Whilst there has been some participation from other countries, including New Zealand and Singapore, as of 2021 it is still categorized as a "national student-led demonstration".[64]
Harvey Milk Day22 May2010Celebrated to honor Harvey Milk, assassinated politician, on his birthday. It is celebrated officially in California, Milk's home state.[65]
HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day 5 June 2014 A day to highlight the resilience and strengths of people living longest with HIV and AIDS, while pointing out the challenges facing this population and demanding action to improve their quality of life.[66] It was started by Tez Anderson, founder of Let's Kick ASS (LKA)[67] and promoted on social media using #HLTSAD.[68]
LGBT History MonthOctober 111994It was declared a national history month by President Barack Obama in 2009. The month was created with the intent to encourage openness and education about LGBT history and rights.
LGBT Pride MonthJune[69][70][71]June is celebrated as Pride in honor of the Stonewall Riots, though Pride events occur all year round. It also marks the month that same-sex marriage was legalized in the United States.
Pulse Night of Remembrance12 June2017Annual day of US remembrance for the loss of 49 LGBT people in the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida.[72]
Spirit DayThe third Thursday in October[73]2010Support for LGBTQ+ youth who are the victims of bullying, as well as to honor LGBTQ+ victims of bullying-related suicide. Comparable days exist in a number of other countries, including Australia (Wear it Purple Day) and the Netherlands (Purple Friday).
Stonewall Riots Anniversary28 June[74]1969A day to remember the Stonewall Riots, a reaction to the NYPD raid of the Stonewall Inn.[75] This initial event was a galvanizing force for LGBT political activism, and argued by some to be the birth of the gay rights movement, in the United States and around the world.[76][77] The world's first pride parade occurred on the 1st anniversary (28 June 1970).

United Kingdom
Name Date Year Started Notes
LGBT History MonthFebruary2005Celebrated throughout February since 2005. Founded by Schools OUT UK - The LGBT+ Education Charity.

See also

References
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