#LVW Theme 2024: United, Not Uniform

Lesbian Visibility Week, celebrated from April 22-28, is a time to recognize and honor the contributions, achievements, and unique experiences of lesbian women around the world.
Posted in Awareness   •   Celebration
April 22, 2024
#LVW Theme 2024: United, Not Uniform

Lesbian Visibility Week #LVW2024, celebrated from April 22-28, is a time to recognise and honor the contributions, achievements, and unique experiences of lesbian women around the world.

Why Do We Need Lesbian Visibility Week?

The origins of Lesbian Visibility Week can be traced back to 1990, when it was first conceived by the West Hollywood Lesbian Visibility Committee and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. The organizers sought to raise awareness and gain more visibility for lesbian women, who often felt overshadowed by the higher public profile of gay men.

Research shows that lesbian women are less likely to be out at work compared to gay men, and their stories and experiences are sometimes sidelined in broader narratives.

The week also serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges and discrimination that many lesbians continue to face. Lesbian women, particularly those with intersecting marginalized identities, often encounter barriers to acceptance, visibility, and equal rights.

This Year’s Theme: United, Not Uniform

captures the essence of the lesbian community. Lesbians come from all walks of life, with diverse ethnicities, backgrounds, and expressions of their identities. This week is about celebrating that beautiful spectrum while recognising the power of solidarity within the LGBTQIA+ community.

List of Famous & Influential LGBTQIA+ People

Here’s a list of famous LGBTQIA+ people* spanning various fields and disciplines, whose contributions and achievements have left significant marks on society and culture:

*This list is not exhaustive, but it highlights some of the individuals who openly identify within the lesbian spectrum.

Movie & TV

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster 2011
Jodie Foster ©Georges Biard

Two-time Academy Award winner known for her powerful performances in films like “The Silence of the Lambs” and “Taxi Driver.”

Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart in Cannes 2018
Kristen Stewart ©Georges Biard

Rose to fame in the “Twilight” saga and has since established herself as a critically acclaimed actress in independent films.

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres ©Angela George

Emmy Award-winning comedian and talk show host who famously came out as lesbian in 1997, breaking barriers on television.

Wanda Sykes

Wanda Sykes GLAAD 2010
Wanda Sykes ©Greg Hernandez

Award-winning comedian and actress known for her sharp wit and outspoken voice.

Sara Ramirez

Sara Ramirez modeling at The Heart Truth Fashion Show 2008
Sara Ramirez ©The Heart Truth

Played Callie Torres on “Grey’s Anatomy” and is a prominent bisexual activist.

Samira Wiley

Samira Wiley
Samira Wiley ©redryu82 on DeviantArt

Played Poussey Washington on “Orange is the New Black” and is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights.

Cynthia Nixon

Cynthia Nixon attends 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards on March 13, 2010
Cynthia Nixon ©Nick Step via Flickr

Star of “Sex and the City” who is openly lesbian and a vocal advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights.

Angela Robinson

Angela Robinson
Angela Robinson @Zak Krevitt for WIRED

While primarily known as a filmmaker and television producer, Angela Robinson is also a prominent lesbian figure in Hollywood. She directed several episodes of “The L Word” and has created and produced other LGBTQIA+ inclusive series such as “The L Word: Generation Q” and “The Real L Word.”

Kate McKinnon

Kate McKinnon at The 68th Emmy Awards
Kate McKinnon ©ABC, Walt Disney Television

An actress and comedian known for her work on “Saturday Night Live,” McKinnon is openly lesbian and has become one of the show’s most beloved cast members.

Ruby Rose

Ruby Rose 2012
Ruby Rose ©Eva Rinaldi

An Australian model, actress, and DJ, Rose gained widespread recognition for her role as Stella Carlin in the Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black.” She has been open about her gender identity and sexual orientation, identifying as genderfluid and lesbian.

Portia de Rossi

Portia de Rossi
Portia de Rossi ©Pulicciano

An actress known for her roles in “Ally McBeal” and “Arrested Development,” de Rossi is married to Ellen DeGeneres and came out publicly as a lesbian in 2005.

Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne ©Gage Skidmore

Actress and model Cara Delevingne is known for her work in films like “Suicide Squad” and “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets”.

Tig Notaro

Tig Notaro
Tig Notaro ©Gage Skidmore

A comedian, writer, and actress, Notaro is known for her deadpan comedy style and her openness about her experiences, including her breast cancer diagnosis and her marriage to actress Stephanie Allynne.

Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International
Sarah Paulson ©Gage Skidmore

An actress known for her roles in various television series and films, Paulson is openly lesbian and has received critical acclaim for her performances.

Lily Tomlin

Tig Notaro
Lily Tomlin ©U.S. Department of State

Mary Jean “Lily” Tomlin is an American actress, comedian, writer, singer, and producer. Tomlin started her career in stand-up comedy and sketch comedy before transitioning her career to acting onstage and on-screen.

Raven-Symoné

Sarah Paulson speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International
Raven-Symoné ©W!ZARD Radio Media

Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman-Maday, also known mononymously as Raven, is an American actress, singer, and songwriter.

Amandla Stenberg

Tig Notaro
Amandla Stenberg ©Gage Skidmore

Amandla Stenberg is an American actress and singer. Her breakthrough came at the age of 14, when she was cast as Rue in the 2012 film The Hunger Games.

Jane Lynch

Sarah Paulson speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International
Jane Marie Lynch ©Peterb1234

Jane Marie Lynch is an American actress, comedian, and singer. She is known for starring as Sue Sylvester in the musical comedy series Glee, which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award.

Music

Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe ©IHEARTHIPHOP 

A genre-bending artist known for her futuristic concepts and flamboyant style. Identifies as non-binary but has expressed attraction to women.

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish ©Icebox

Billie Eilish is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter known for her unique blend of pop, pop-rock, and alternative styles. While not explicitly stating her sexual orientation, she has spoken openly about being attracted to women.

Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman ©Hans Hillewaert

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter known for her introspective lyrics and soulful vocals. While not explicitly stating her sexual orientation, her songs like “Fast Car” and “Give Me One Reason” have become anthems for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah ©Sister Circle TV

While primarily known as a rapper and actress, Queen Latifah is also a talented singer. Though not publicly stating her sexual orientation, she has been a positive role model for many.

Peaches

Peaches
Peaches ©Eric Silva from Somerville

Canadian artist Peaches (Merrill Nisker) is an electroclash icon. Known for outrageous live shows and a blend of punk, electronic music, and theatrics.

King Princess

King Princess
King Princess ©Orioq

Rising star in the music industry known for her unique blend of pop, rock, and R&B. Openly lesbian and her music often explores themes of queer love and identity.

St. Vincent 

St. Vincent 
St. Vincent Â©Raph_PH

St. Vincent (real name Annie Clark) art-rock music and theatrical performances challenge traditional gender norms and identifies as queer.

Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Etheridge ©Angela George

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter known for her powerful rock anthems. Came out as a lesbian in the early 1990s and has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights ever since.

k.d. lang

k.d. lang
k.d. lang ©Charlie Llewellin

Canadian singer-songwriter known for her distinctive voice and openness about her sexuality.

Tegan and Sara

Tegan and Sara (Musicians): 
Tegan and Sara ©TABERCIL PHOTOGRAPHY

Twin sister duo known for their catchy pop songs and exploration of LGBTQIA+ themes in their music.

Brandi Carlile

Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile ©WFUV Public Radio

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter known for her powerful vocals and Americana sound. 

Lesley Gore

Lesley Gore
Lesley Gore ©Jemal Countess/Getty

Known for her iconic song “It’s My Party” and later came out as a lesbian activist.

Jojo Siwa

Jojo Siwa
Jojo Siwa ©iHeartRadioCA

Joelle Joanie “JoJo” Siwa is an American singer, dancer, actress and internet personality.

Jean Deaux

Jean Deaux
Jean Deaux ©Jingyu Lin

Rising star known for her genre-bending music that mixes hip-hop, soul, and electronic influences.

Hayley Kiyoko

Hayley Kiyoko
Hayley Kiyoko ©Mr_Dume

A singer, songwriter, and actress, Kiyoko is often referred to as “Lesbian Jesus” by her fans for her unapologetic representation of queer identity in her music videos and lyrics.

Betty Who

Betty Who
Betty Who ©Toglenn

Pop singer Betty Who is known for her bright and bubbly music.

Writing/Literature

Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde ©K. Kendall

Influential African American poet, essayist, and activist whose work explored themes of race, gender, sexuality, and class.

Adrienne Rich

Adrienne Rich
Adrienne Rich ©Neal Boenzi/New York Times Co./Getty Images

Pioneering feminist poet and essayist who wrote extensively about gender, sexuality, and social justice. While there is debate about her sexual orientation, she was in a committed relationship with another woman for most of her life.

Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf ©George Charles Beresford

An English writer known for her modernist novels, including “Mrs. Dalloway” and “Orlando.” Woolf had relationships with women throughout her life and is often discussed within the context of LGBTQIA+ literature.

Jeanette Winterson

Jeanette Winterson
Jeanette Winterson ©Mariusz Kubik

A British author known for her novels such as “Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit” and “Written on the Body.” Winterson’s writing often delves into themes of love, sexuality, and identity, drawing from her own experiences as a lesbian woman.

Radclyffe Hall

Radclyffe Hall
Radclyffe Hall ©Radclyffe Hal

A British author best known for her novel “The Well of Loneliness,” which was published in 1928 and is considered a landmark work in lesbian literature. Despite facing censorship and controversy upon its release, the novel has since been recognized for its portrayal of lesbian identity.

Alison Bechdel

Alison Bechdel
Alison Bechdel ©Chase Elliott Clark

A cartoonist and graphic memoirist known for her autobiographical comic strip “Dykes to Watch Out For” and her graphic memoir “Fun Home,” which explores her relationship with her father and her own coming out as a lesbian.

Lauren Morelli

Lauren Morelli
Lauren Morelli ©Theo Wargo Getty Images

An American television writer and producer known for her work on the series “Orange Is the New Black.” Morelli, who came out as a lesbian while working on the show, has been praised for her portrayal of LGBTQIA+ characters and relationships in the series.

Liz Feldman

Liz Feldman
Liz Feldman ©Phillip Faraone Getty Images

An American television writer and producer known for creating the Netflix series “Dead to Me.”

Science

Sally Ride

Sally Ride
Sally Ride ©Tim Wilson

An astronaut and physicist, Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983. She was also a passionate advocate for science education.

Chien-Shiung Wu

Chien-Shiung Wu
Chien-Shiung Wu ©Smithsonian Institution

A Chinese-American experimental physicist, Wu made significant contributions to the Manhattan Project during World War II and later conducted groundbreaking research in nuclear physics.

Nettie Stevens

Nettie Stevens
Nettie Stevens ©Adam Cuerden

An American cytologist who discovered the XX/XY chromosome system of sex determination in 1905.

Barbara McClintock

Sally Ride
Barbara McClintock ©Adam Cuerden

A pioneering geneticist, McClintock won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1983 for her discovery of genetic transposition.

Vera Rubin

Vera Rubin
Vera Rubin ©Carnegie Institution of Washington, via Associated Press

An American astronomer who specialized in galaxy rotation curves and dark matter. Her work helped to establish the existence of dark matter in the universe.

Evelyn Boyd Granville

Evelyn Boyd Granville
Dr. Evelyn Boyd Granville ©NIST

A mathematician who worked as a computer programmer for NASA, Granville made significant contributions to the Apollo space program and later worked in academia.

Nancy Wexler

Nancy Wexler
Nancy Wexler ©Christopher Michel

An American neurogeneticist who co-founded the Hereditary Disease Foundation (HDF) and played a key role in identifying the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Rosalind Franklin

Rosalind Franklin
Rosalind Franklin ©Silver Screen 

Franklin was a British biophysicist and X-ray crystallographer whose work was critical to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite.

Sports

Megan Rapinoe

Megan Rapinoe
Megan Rapinoe ©Lorie Shaull

A household name, Megan Rapinoe is a two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist with the US Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT). She is a outspoken advocate for social justice issues like equal pay for women athletes and LGBTQIA+ rights.

Marta Vieira da Silva

Marta
Marta ©UN-Women/Ryan Brown

The Brazilian forward Marta is a five-time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year. She is considered one of the greatest female soccer players of all time.

Sue Bird

Sue Bird
Sue Bird ©Samantha Beddoes

Point guard Sue Bird is a four-time WNBA champion, five-time Olympic gold medalist, and the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer. She has been with her partner Megan Rapinoe since 2016.

Amanda Nunes

Amanda Nunes
Amanda Nunes ©MMAnytt

UFC fighter Amanda Nunes is a two-division champion. She is married to fellow UFC fighter Nina Nunes.

Nicola Adams

Sue Bird
Nicola Adams ©Andy Miah 

A retired British boxer, Adams made history as the first openly LGBTQIA+ person to win an Olympic boxing gold medal.

Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King ©Jonathan Exley

A tennis legend, King won 39 Grand Slam titles and was instrumental in the fight for gender equality in tennis. She came out publicly as gay in 1981.

Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova ©John Mathew Smith

Another tennis icon, Navratilova won 18 Grand Slam singles titles and 31 Grand Slam doubles titles. She came out as bisexual in 1981 and later identified as a lesbian.

Liz Carmouche

Liz Carmouche
Liz Carmouche ©UFC

A former mixed martial artist, Carmouche was one of the first openly gay fighters in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship).

Politics

Kathy Kozakachenko

Kathy Kozakachenko
Kathy Kozakachenko ©sarah huny young for NBC News

The first out lesbian elected to any political office in the United States (1974).

Johanna Sigurðardóttir

Johanna Sigurðardóttir
Johanna Sigurðardóttir | Icelandic Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Security

A former Prime Minister of Iceland, Sigurðardóttir was the world’s first openly lesbian head of government. She served as Prime Minister from 2009 to 2013.

Ana Brnabić

Ana Brnabić
Ana Brnabić © European Union, 2024

Ana Brnabić is the Prime Minister of Serbia and the first openly gay person to hold the position in Serbia.

Sophie Wilmès

Sophie Wilmès
Sophie Wilmès ©Thomasdaems89

A Belgian politician, Wilmès served as the Prime Minister of Belgium from 2019 to 2020, making her the first woman to hold the position in Belgium.

Eva-Britt Svensson

Kathy Kozakachenko
Eva-Britt Svensson ©European Parliament | Flickr

A Swedish politician, Svensson served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1999 to 2014.

Claudia López Hernández

Claudia López Hernández
Claudia López Hernández ©Patty Suescún

Claudia López is the Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, and the first woman and first openly gay person to hold the position.

Annise Parker

Annise Parker
Annise Parker ©Zblume

Parker served as the Mayor of Houston, Texas, from 2010 to 2016, making her the first openly lesbian mayor of a major U.S. city.

Penny Wong

Penny Wong
Penny Wong ©Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

A prominent Australian politician, Wong has been a Senator for South Australia since 2002 and has served in various ministerial roles.

Simone Bell

Simone Bell
Simone Bell ©Georgia House of Representatives

A former member of the Georgia House of Representatives, Bell was the first openly lesbian African American woman elected to a state legislature in the United States.

Michèle Pierre-Louis

Michèle Pierre-Louis
Michèle Pierre-Louis ©Department of State

Haitian politician who was Prime Minister of Haiti from September 2008 to November 2009.

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EDI Calendar 2024

January

Month-long observances:

  • National Mentoring Month
  • Poverty in America Awareness Month
  • Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month

Important January EDI calendar dates:

    • January 1 – New Year’s Day
    • January 4 – World Braille Day
    • January 7 – Coptic Orthodox Christmas
    • January 25 – Mahayana New Year (Buddhist)
    • January 13 – Maghi (Sikh)
    • January 21 – World Religion Day
    • January 15 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
    • January 24 – International Day of Education
    • January 26 – International Customs Day
    • January 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day
February

Month-long observances:

  • American Heart Month
  • Black History Month

Important February EDI calendar dates:

    • February 1 – National Freedom Day
    • February 2 – Groundhog Day
    • February 4 — Rosa Parks Day
    • February 6 — Safer Internet Day
    • February 10 — Lunar New Year (Year of the Dragon)
    • February 11 – International Day of Women & Girls in Science
    • February 12 – International Epilepsy Day
    • February 13 – Mardi Gras
    • February 14 – Ash Wednesday
    • February 14 – Valentine’s Day
    • February 15 – Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
    • February 15 – International Childhood Cancer Day
    • February 17 – Random Acts of Kindness Day
    • February 19 – Family Day (Canada)
    • February 19 – President’s Day (USA)
    • February 20 – World Day of Social Justice
March

Month-long observances:

  • Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
  • Ethnic Equality Month
  • Gender Equality Month
  • Greek-American Heritage Month
  • Irish-American Heritage Month
  • National Colon Cancer Awareness Month
  • National Kidney Month
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness and Education Month
  • National Women’s History Month

Important March EDI calendar dates:

    • March 1 – Employee Appreciation Day
    • March 8 – International Women’s Day
    • March 8 – Maha Shivarati (Hindu)
    • March 10 –  Ramadan begins (Islam)
    • March 10 – Harriet Tubman Day (USA)
    • March 14 – Pi Ï€ Day
    • March 14 – Equal Pay Day
    • March 15 – International Day to Combat Islamophobia
    • March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day
    • March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day
    • March 23 – Purim (Jewish)
    • March 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
    • March 24 – Palm Sunday (Christian)
    • March 25 – Holi (Hindu)
    • March 29– Good Friday (Christian)
    • March 31 – International Transgender Day of Visibility
    • March 31 – Easter (Christian)
    • March 31 – César Chávez Day (USA)
April

Month-long observances:

  • Arab-American Heritage Month
  • Autism Awareness Month
  • Celebrate Diversity Month
  • Earth Month
  • National Child Abuse Prevention Month
  • National Volunteer Month

Important April EDI calendar dates:

    • April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day
    • April 5 – Laylat al-Qadr (Muslim)
    • April 7 – World Health Day
    • April 9 – Eid-al-Fitr/End of Ramadan (Muslim)
    • April 12 – National Day of Silence (LGBTQ+)
    • April 21 – Start of Ridvan (Baha’i)
    • April 22 – Passover begins (Jewish)
    • April 22 – Earth Day
    • April 24 – Administrative Professionals Day
    • April 28 –World Day for Safety and Health at Work
    • April 30 – Passover ends
May

Month-long observances:

  • ALS Awareness Month
  • Haitian Heritage Month
  • Indian Heritage Month
  • Jewish-American Heritage Month
  • Mental Health Awareness Month
  • National Asian American and South Pacific Islander Heritage Month
  • Older Americans Month
  • South Asian American Heritage Month

Important May EDI calendar dates:

    • May 5 – Cinco de Mayo
    • May 5 – Yom Hashoah (Jewish)
    • May 12 – Mother’s Day
    • May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
    • May 19 – Malcolm X Day (USA)
    • May 20 – Victoria Day (Canada)
    • May 20 – International Human Resources Day
    • May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
    • May 23 – Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i)
    • May 26 – Arbor Day
    • May 29 – Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
    • May 27 – Memorial Day
June

Month-long observances:

  • Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
  • Black Music Month
  • National Caribbean American Heritage Month
  • Pride Month (LGBTQ+)

Important June EDI calendar dates

    • June 5 – World Environment Day
    • June 9 – Race Unity Day
    • June 12 – Loving Day
    • June 16 – Eid al-Adha (Muslim)
    • June 16 – Father’s Day
    • June 19 – Juneteenth
    • June 20 – World Refugee Day
    • June 20 – Litha, Summer Solstice (Pagan)
    • June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day (Canada)
    • June 23 – Public Service Day
    • June 24 – St-Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec)
    • June 27 – Helen Keller Day (USA)
    • June 28 – Pride Day (LGBTQ+) (varies by city and country)
July

Month-long observances:

  • French-American Heritage Month

Important July EDI calendar dates

    • July 1 – Canada Day (Canada)
    • July 4 – Independence Day (USA)
    • July 7 – Al-Hijra begins (Muslim)
    • July 9 – Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i)
    • July 11 – World Populace Day
    • July 14 – Bastille Day
    • July 18 – International Nelson Mandela Day
    • July 24 – Pioneer Day (Mormon)
    • July 24 – International Self-Care Day
    • July 26 – National Disability Independence Day (commemorates the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act)
    • July 28 – Parents’ Day (USA)
    • July 30 – International Day of Friendship
August

Month-long observances:

  • National Civility Month

Important EDI calendar dates:

    • August 7 – Purple Heart Day
    • August 9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
    • August 13 – Left-Handers Day
    • August 17 – Marcus Garvey Day (Jamaican)
    • August 19 – World Humanitarian Day
    • August 21 – Senior Citizens Day
    • August 26 – Women’s Equality Day
    • August 26 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
September

Month-long observances:

  • Hispanic Heritage Month
  • National Guide Dog Month
  • Suicide Prevention Month

Important September EDI calendar dates:

  • September 2 – Labor Day
  • September 5 – International Day of Charity
  • September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
  • September 10 – Grandparents’ Day
  • September 11 – Patriot Day (U.S.A.)
  • September 15 – International Day of Democracy
  • September 16 – Mexican Independence Day
  • September 18 – International Equal Pay Day
  • September 21 – International Day of Peace
  • September 21 – World Gratitude Day
  • September 22 – American Business Women’s Day
  • September 26 – HR Appreciation Day
  • September 27 – National Native American Day
  • September 30 – National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (Canada)

 

October

Month-long observances:

  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  • Bullying Prevention Month
  • Domestic Violence Awareness Month
  • Filipino-American Heritage Month
  • German-American Heritage Month
  • Italian-American Heritage Month
  • LGBTQ History Month
  • National Work and Family Month
  • Polish-American Heritage Month
  • Family History Month

Important October EDI calendar dates:

    • October 2 – International Day of Nonviolence
    • October 2 – Rosh Hashanah begins (Jewish)
    • October 3 – Navrati begins (Hindu)
    • October 10 – World Mental Health Day
    • October 11 – National Coming Out Day (LGBTQ+)
    • October 11 – Yom Kippur (Jewish)
    • October 14 – National Indigenous Peoples’ Day (United States)
    • October 14 – Thanksgiving Day (Canada)
    • October 16 – Sukkot (Jewish)
    • October 16 – Bosses’ Day
    • October 19 – Spirit Day (LGBTQ+ anti-bullying)
    • October 20 – Birth of the Bab (Baha’i)
    • October 20 – Sikh Holy Day (birth of Guru Granth)
    • October 21 – Waste Reduction Week
    • October 22 – International Stuttering Awareness Day
    • October 31 – Halloween
    • October 31 – Diwali (Hindu)
November

Month-long observances:

  • Diabetes Awareness Month
  • National Native American, American Heritage Month

Important EDI calendar dates:

    • November 1-2 – Dia de Muertos
    • November 1 – All Saints’ Day (Roman Catholic)
    • November 1 – National Stress Awareness Day
    • November 2 – All Souls’ Day
    • November 5 – Election Day (USA)
    • November 9 – World Freedom Day
    • November 9 – World Adoption Day
    • November 11 – Remembrance Day
    • November 11 – Veterans Day
    • November 12 – Birth of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
    • November 13 – World Kindness Day
    • November 16 – International Day for Tolerance
    • November 19 – International Men’s Day
    • November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance
    • November 20 – World Children’s Day (Human Rights, U.N.)
    • November 28 – Thanksgiving
    • November 25 – Day of the Covenant (Baha’i)
    • November 27 – Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha (Baha’i)
December

Month-long observances:

  • HIV/AIDS Awareness Month
  • Universal Human Rights Month

Important December EDI calendar dates:

    • December 1 – World AIDS Day
    • December 3 – International Day for People with Disabilities
    • December 3 – Giving Tuesday (USA)
    • December 5 – International Volunteer Day
    • December 7 – Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (USA)
    • December 9 – International Genocide Prevention Day
    • December 10 – International Human Rights Day
    • December 18 – International Migrants Day
    • December 21 – Yule Winter Solstice (Pagan)
    • December 25 – Christmas (Christian)
    • December 25 – Hanukkah begins at sunset (Jewish)
    • December 26 – Kwanzaa week (Celebration of African Customs & Cultures)
    • December 26 – Boxing Day
    • December 31 – New Year’s Eve
    • January 2, 2025 – Hanukkah ends at sunset (Jewish)

Please note that while we have attempted to include all important diversity and inclusion dates in this calendar, we do not claim completeness and regret if an important date has escaped our attention. We appreciate any feedback or comments that contribute to completeness. Thank you for your understanding.

Let’s continue to recognize and celebrate diversity and inclusion throughout the year and work towards creating an inclusive environment for all.

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