The following are lists of internationally recognized and domestically recognized LGBTQIA+ awareness periods, i.e. awareness days, weeks and months that focus on LGBT2SQIA+ matters.[1]
Internationally recognized
Name
Date
Year Started
Notes
Agender Pride Day
19 May
2017
A day celebrated internationally[2][3] to promote awareness of agender individuals.[4]
The first full week following Valentine's Day (14 February), beginning on Sunday[6]
2014
A week to promote information and awareness about aromantic spectrum identities ("an identity within the LGBTQIA+ community in which someone experiences little to no romantic attraction."[7]) and the issues they face.[8] This week was first recognized from 10 to 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.[9]
A day that aims to celebrate and recognize drag art all around the world.[23] Created by Adam Stewart[24] in 2009 through his Facebook fan page[25] for drag queens.[26]
The International Day of Pink is a worldwide anti-bullying and anti-homophobia event[27] where participants are encouraged to wear or display a pink shirt, echoing a mass gesture of solidarity with a student subjected to homophobic bullying in Cambridge, Nova Scotia, Canada in 2007.
A 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.[30]
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.[39] 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.[40] 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.
Dyke Week
9 August
2022
An annual day to promote Dyke history, culture and dyke communities. Inspired by Dyke Day in LA or Dyke Weekend in Japan. Established by HER app in 2022.
Non-Binary Awareness Week
The week, starting Sunday[41]/Monday,[42] surrounding 14 July
A week dedicated to those who do not fit within the traditional gender binary,[45] 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.[46] Promoted on Twitter as @NBWeek.[47]
A month to celebrate transgender and gender nonconforming communities and to raise awareness for this community through education and advocacy activities.
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 Crocker (Michigan, United States),[58] the head of Transgender Michigan,[59] as a reaction to the lack of a day celebrating transgender people.
A United Nations (UN) recognized day[64] promoting equality before the law, and in practice, throughout all of the member countries of the UN. The UN first celebrated this day on 1 March 2014, launched as part of the previous year's Zero Discrimination campaign run by UNAIDS on World AIDS Day (1 December 2013).[65]
Based on a similarly named awareness period in the United States, this is a month encouraging openness and education about LGBTIQ history and rights.[66]
A 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 LGBTIQ rights issues and/or themes.
A day to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people. The day was co-founded by Katherine Hudson and Scott Williams.[67] Comparable days exist in a number of other countries, including the Netherlands (Purple Friday) and the United States (Spirit Day).
A day celebrated annually on 29 January and celebrates, since 2004, the pride, existence and resistance of the trans and travesti community within the LGBTQ+ movement in Brazil.[68][69]
An established date in Brazil created by Brazilian lesbian activists and dedicated to the date on which the 1st National Lesbian Seminar - Senale took place, on 29 August 1996.[70][71]
National Gay Pride Day
March 25
A day started around 2020 to celebrate gay pride, specially gay men pride, in Brazil.[72][73][74]
A semi-annual weekend event of workshops, seminars, guest speakers and sports run by volunteer group of a queer woman to come together and share ideas, build new friendships and strengthen community. [78]
A commemoration of Ireland legalizing same-sex marriage through a plebiscite.
Netherlands
Name
Date
Year Started
Notes
Purple Friday
The second Friday of December
2010
A 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).[79] The Gender Sexuality Alliance Network has continued to celebrate its observance annually since then.[80] Comparable days exist in a number of other countries, including Australia (Wear it Purple Day) and the United States (Spirit Day).
New Zealand
Name
Date
Year Started
Notes
Schools Pride Week
The second week of June
2019
This week is aimed at high schools and allows students to celebrate diversity. It is championed by the charity InsideOut[81] and has links to the UK-based and school-led diversity week[82]
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.[83] Promoted on social media through #BiHealthMonth.[84]
A 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.[85] It is currently organized by GLSEN. In 1997, one year after the day's creation, it went national, with over 100 institutions participating.[86] 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".[87]
Celebrated to honor Harvey Milk, assassinated politician, on his birthday. It is celebrated officially in California, Milk's home state.[88]
Sapphic Visibility Day
9 April
2024
Celebrated to promote term "sapphic" as identity for many women, nonbinary, trans and gender nonconforming folks.[89]
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.[90] It was started by Tez Anderson, founder of Let's Kick ASS (LKA)[91] and promoted on social media using #HLTSAD.[92]
A week to celebrate and support LGBTQ+ businesses and raise awareness of economic issues faced by the community.[93] In 2024, it will be celebrated the week of December 2nd.[94]
It 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.
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.
Support 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).
A day to remember the Stonewall Riots, a reaction to the NYPD raid of the Stonewall Inn.[101] 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.[102][103] The world's first pride parade occurred on the 1st anniversary (28 June 1970). It's also known as International LGBT Pride Day.[104]
Transgender History Month
August
2024
Recognized in California following the State Legislature's passage of House Resolution 57 on 6 September 2023.[105]