Days of Significance
LGBTQ events and celebrations take place all year round! Find out what’s happening this month, and in the months to come.
Find and list your regional events on the Calendar.
Football v. Homophobia (February)
On February 19th 2010, The Justin Campaign launched “Football v Homophobia” – An international day opposing homophobia in football. Its intention is to provide an opportunity for individuals, communities and teams the world over to communicate their disapproval of homophobia in the game and celebrate its diverse following under the banner of Football v Homophobia.
Pink Shirt Day (February)
On one day each February we encourage all of you to wear something pink to symbolize that we as a society will not tolerate bullying anywhere. We wish we could take credit for this idea but it comes from two incredible Nova Scotia high school students, David Shepherd and Travis Price.
Day of Silence (April)
Day of Silence was originally started by students at the University of Virginia in 1996, and has grown to become a international movement. Key in spreading awareness and promoting this day is GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) who does so with the aim of uniting all students around the US in silence to raise awareness about homophobic, transphobic, and biphobic bullying in schools and society at large. Today, Day of Silence is frequently celebrated in classrooms outside of the US, including in Canada.
If you are a Canadian organizer, student, parent or educator looking for information or materials on LGBTQ issues within Canada for your Day of Silence event? Contact us at mygsa@egale.ca !
Day of Pink (April)
April 11th marks the International Day of Pink. It is a day where communities across the country, and across the world, can unite in celebrating diversity and raising awareness to stop homophobic, transphobic & all forms of bullying.
International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (May)
The International Day Against Homophobia, held on May 17 every year, is a rallying event offering an opportunity for people to get together and reach out to one another. Fondation Émergence promotes, mainly on a pan-Canadian level, the International Day Against Homophobia and encourages organisations and individuals to highlight this event in their environment.
HomophobiaDay.org (Canada)
DayAgainstHomophobia.org (International)
Spirit Day (October)
Millions of Americans wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and to speak out against bullying. Spirit Day was started in 2010 by teenager Brittany McMillan as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. Observed annually on October 20, individuals, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals and celebrities wear purple, which symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag.
GLSEN.org/SpiritDay
Transgender Day of Remembrance (November)
The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder in 1998 kicked off the
“Remembering Our Dead”
web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999.
Remembering Our Dead
TransgenderDOR.org
