Monthly Guide
The world is rich with diversity, reflected in the observances celebrated by its various cultures and populations. Knowledge of the following diversity holidays and celebrations can enhance diversity and inclusion on our campus and community.
Celebration and Awareness Months
February is recognized as both Black History Month and National Cancer Prevention Month.
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. A theme for Black History Month has been endorsed by the American president every year since 1976, and the designated theme for 2024 is “African Americans and the Arts.”
National Cancer Prevention Month is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness for and furthering the possibilities of cancer prevention. The federal government estimates that nearly 2 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) during 2023 and that more than 600,000 died from their disease. Research shows that more than 40 percent of these cases and nearly half of the deaths can be attributed to preventable causes – smoking, excess body weight, physical inactivity, and excessive exposure to the sun, among others. Learn more about National Cancer Prevention Month here.
March is recognized as Women's History Month as well as Greek-American Heritage Month and Irish-American Heritage Month.
Women’s History Month was designated by presidential proclamation and is set aside to honor women’s contributions to history, culture, and society in the United States. Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. The National Women's History Alliance designates a yearly theme for Women's History Month, and the designated theme for 2024 is "Women who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion."
Greek-American Heritage Month is celebrated in March to coincide with the Greek Independence Day which is celebrated on March 25. Throughout the month, learn about how Greek immigrants and their families have impacted American society, whether in business, the arts, or politics. Learn more about Greek-American Heritage Month here.
Irish-American Heritage Month was first celebrated by proclamation of the President in 1991. It seemed natural to choose March (Saint Patrick’s Day falls on March 17) for the month-long recognition of the contributions that Irish immigrants and their descendants have made to U.S. society. Virtually every realm of American endeavor, from steelworking to biotechnology to literature, has seen improvement through Irish-descended hands and minds. Learn more about Irish-American Heritage Month here.
April is recognized as Autism Acceptance Month, Arab American Heritage Month, and Deaf History Month.
Autism Acceptance Month was established in coordination with National Autism Awareness Day (April 31st). The Autism Society of America is celebrating its fifth annual #CelebrateDifferences campaign in honor of Autism Acceptance Month 2024. They work to create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community to live fully. Learn more about Autism Acceptance Month here.
Arab American Heritage Month is an annual celebration of Arab Americans and their rich history, culture, and contributions to the advancement of society. In 2022, President Biden became the first U.S. president to declare April as Arab American Heritage Month, in recognition of the contributions of Arab Americans to the nation's history. Americans of Arab heritage have advanced the nation’s achievements in diplomacy, science, technology, as well as in art and culture. Learn more about Arab American History Month here.
Deaf History Month is a time to raise awareness about the deaf community and their struggles in our society. The month also focuses on honoring the immense contributions of deaf individuals and the deaf community to our country. During this month, we also get to learn more about the ongoing advocacy work many organizations undertake to make life easier and more inclusive for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Learn more about Deaf History Month here.
May is recognized as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and Jewish Heritage Month.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI Heritage Month) is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The month of May was chosen for AAPI Heritage Month because it commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843. May is also a significant month because it recognizes Golden Spike Day, May 10, 1869, which marks the completion of the transcontinental railroad that was built with significant contributions from Chinese workers.
Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in Americans’ lives and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. For the past 20 years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has recognized Mental Health Awareness Month every May to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being. Learn more about Mental Health Awareness Month here.
Jewish American Heritage Month began as an effort by the Jewish Museum of Florida and South Florida Jewish community leaders. Through the bi-partisan efforts of Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) and the late Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, JAHM was established in 2006 by President George W. Bush to honor the contributions and achievements of Jewish Americans and to educate all Americans. It’s been continued every year since then by Presidential Proclamation. Learn more about Jewish American Heritage Month here.
June is recognized as LGBTQ+ Pride Month and Caribbean-American Heritage Month.
LGBTQ+ Pride Month is celebrated annually in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for LGBTQ+ Americans. In June of 1969, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City staged an uprising to resist the police harassment and persecution to which LGBTQ+ Americans were commonly subjected. This uprising marks the beginning of a movement to outlaw discriminatory laws and practices against LGBTQ+ Americans. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. Learn more about LGBTQ+ Pride Month here.
Caribbean-American Heritage Month first began in June 2005, when the House of Representatives unanimously adopted H. Con. Res. 71, sponsored by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, recognizing the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States. On February 14, 2006, the resolution similarly passed the Senate, culminating a two-year, bipartisan and bicameral effort. During Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we celebrate the achievements and dreams of the millions of people of Caribbean origin now living in the United States while honoring the shared history of joy and perseverance that has united and enriched life across our region for centuries. Learn more about Caribbean-American Heritage Month here.
July is recognized as Disability Pride Month, French-American Heritage Month, and Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
In alignment with the July 1990 passing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Disability Pride Month is celebrated every year in July. This observance aims to promote visibility and mainstream awareness of the positive pride felt by those within the disability community. Using bold images and powerful words, disability pride awareness events and parades strive to educate and empower people with and without disabilities. Learn more about Disability Pride Month here.
French-American Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor the relationship France and America have fostered for hundreds of years, from the time of the American colonies to today. The impacts of French citizens on America are vast, including famous intellectuals and artists like Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi and Édouard de Laboulaye, who conceived of and designed the Statue of Liberty, to explorers like Samuel de Champlain, Louis Jolliet, and Jacques Marquette who charted North America’s great waterways opening up the continent’s interior to European settlement and trade. Learn more about French-American Heritage Month here.
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to bring awareness to the unique challenges that racial and ethnic minorities in the United States face when it comes to mental illness. In 2020, fewer than one in every two African American adults got care for mental health. In 2018, Asian Americans were 60 percent less likely to receive mental health treatment than non-Hispanic Whites. Obstacles for many include a lack of health insurance, less access to treatment, and stigma. Learn more about Minority Mental Health Awareness Month here.
August is recognized as National Civility Month, which encourages individuals and communities to prioritize respectful and courteous interactions, fostering a more harmonious society, and is a time to celebrate and recognize the importance of civil behavior in our communities. This special month was first established by the International Institute for Civil Leadership in 2014 as a way to spread awareness about the need for good manners, respect, and consideration for others. Learn more about National Civility Month here.
September is recognized as Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month honors those who have been lost to Gynecological Cancer, as well as survivors. The month focuses on the struggles of assigned female at birth (AFAB) people who have experienced gynecologic cancer and raising awareness of symptoms and warning signs. Gynecologic cancers encompass all cancers of the female reproductive system, including the cervix, ovaries, uterus, vagina, and vulva. All AFAB people are at risk for these cancers. According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2023 more than 106,000 AFAB individuals in the United States are expected to be diagnosed with a gynecological cancer, and more than 32,000 will die from one. Each gynecological cancer has different signs and symptoms, as well as different risk factors. Risk increases with age. Learn more about Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month here.
September 15 - October 15 is recognized as Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month (also known as Latinx Heritage Month) is observed from September 15 to October 15 in the US, unlike other heritage months celebrated during a singular calendar month. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson as a way to pay tribute to the Hispanic and Latinx communities’ contributions to the nation and was enacted into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 as an entire month. Heritage Month starts on the 15th because it marks the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, while Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on the 16th and 18th, respectively. Learn more about Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month here.
October is recognized as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, Filipino-American Heritage Month, Italian-American Heritage Month, and Polish-American Heritage Month.
October is designated to recognize how people with disabilities strengthen the workforce and deserve absolute inclusion in the workplace. The movement to raise awareness began in 1945 with National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week, which dropped “Physically” to acknowledge all forms of disabilities, and transformed into National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in 1988 under President Reagan. Learn more about National Disability Employment Awareness Month here.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month honors those who have been lost to Breast Cancer, as well as survivors. According to the National Cancer Institute, almost 298,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 43,000 will die of the disease in 2023. In addition, an estimated 2,800 men are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer and 530 will die of the disease this year. Breast cancer is the most common type of non-skin cancer in women in the United States, accounting for 15 percent of all new cases. Learn more about Breast Cancer Awareness Month here.
In 1994, a coalition of education-based organizations in the United States designated October as LGBT History Month. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months. National Coming Out Day (October 11), as well as the first "March on Washington" in 1979, are commemorated in the LGBTQ+ community during LGBTQ+ History Month. Learn more about LGBTQ+ History Month here.
In 2009, the US Congress designated October as Filipino American History Month, a month-long commemoration and appreciation for the Filipino experience throughout American history stretching as far back as 1587. Today, about 4.1 million Filipino Americans make up the second-largest Asian American ethnic group in the United States. Their contributions to our country are exemplary and their achievements are recognized and celebrated throughout this designated month. Learn more about Filipino-American Heritage Month here.
Italian-American Heritage Month is celebrated every year to honor and recognize the centuries of achievements, successes, and valuable contributions of Italian immigrants and Italian Americans. It occurs in October to overlap with the federal holiday of Columbus Day, which is celebrated on the second Monday of each October. Italian American Heritage Month was first celebrated in 1989 by a special proclamation of both Congress and President George H. W. Bush. Learn more about Italian-American Heritage Month here.
Polish-American Heritage Month was first recognized in Philadelphia in 1981 with a celebration across the city. In 1984, Polish American Heritage Month was officially recognized nationally. The annual celebration was held in August until 1986, when the month was changed to October to recognize when the first Polish immigrants arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in 1608. It is also time to notice the achievements of Polonia compatriots in the USA. In 2024, Polish Americans will mark the 43rd Anniversary of the founding of Polish American Heritage Month. Learn more about Polish-American Heritage Month here.
November is recognized as National Native American Heritage Month and Transgender Awareness Month.
November was designated “National Native American Heritage Month,” in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. National Native American Heritage Month, or American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month is recognized to honor Native communities in their cultures and traditions while raising awareness about the unique historical and present-day struggles of Indigenous people in the US. Learn more about National Native American Heritage Month here.
Transgender Awareness Month is an opportunity to celebrate, honor, and stand up for our transgender, non-binary, and/or gender-expansive (TNG) friends, family, and neighbors as we work to raise awareness, foster understanding, and celebrate the trans community’s rich tapestry of experiences. This month is dedicated to education about transgender communities and important issues facing trans people. It culminates with the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a worldwide gathering of trans and allied communities to memorialize victims of anti-trans hatred or prejudice. Learn more about Transgender Awareness Month here.
December is recognized as Universal Human Rights Month. In 1948 after the turmoil of World War II, the Commission of Human Rights, chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, wrote a document called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights2. This document was adopted by the United Nations and defines human rights on a universal level. It states "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."2023 commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. President George W. Bush first declared Human Rights Week in December 2001, and it has since become a month-long worldwide holiday. Learn more about Universal Human Rights Month here.