Holocaust Remembrance Day

This day remembers the terrible legacy of the Holocaust, the systematic state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately 6 million Jews, by the Nazi German regime and its allies and collaborators between 1933 and 1945. HRC also remembers the millions of ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and political opponents of the Nazis killed during this period. […]

Operation Soap (aka Toronto Bathhouse Raids) Anniversary

Although many gay bathhouses had previously been raided in Canada and other smaller raids followed, Operation Soap is considered a special turning point in the history of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Canada; the raids and their aftermath are today widely considered to be the Canadian equivalent of the 1969 Stonewall riots […]

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day #NBHAAD

This observance is an opportunity to increase HIV education, testing, community involvement, and treatment among black communities.  The first National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) was marked in 1999 as a grassroots-education effort to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS prevention, care, and treatment in communities of color. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/awareness/nbhaad.html

Pink Shirt Day

Bullying is a major problem in our schools, workplaces, homes, and online.  Over the month of February, and throughout the year, CKNW Kids' Fund's Pink Shirt Day aims to raise awareness of these issues, as well as raise funds to support programs that foster children's healthy self-esteem. https://www.pinkshirtday.ca/

International Transgender Day of Visibility

International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event occurring on March 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Transgender_Day_of_Visibility

National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day #NYHAAD

NYHAAD educates the public about the impact of the HIV/AIDS on youth and highlights the work youth do to strengthen the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/youth_hiv/resources.htm

STD Awareness Week

STD Awareness Week, observed the second full week in April, provides an opportunity to raise awareness about STDs and how they impact our lives; reduce STD-related stigma, fear, and discrimination; and ensure people have the tools and knowledge to prevent, test for, and treat STDs. *STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) has replaced STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) […]

National Transgender HIV Testing Day #TransHIV

NTHTD recognizes the importance of routine HIV testing, status awareness and continued focus on HIV prevention and treatment efforts among transgender and gender non-binary people. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/awareness/nthtd.html

International Family Equality Day

International Family Equality Day (IFED) celebrates the diversity of LGBTQ+ families around the world, and takes place every year on the first Sunday in May. https://www.familyequality.org/international-family-equality-day/

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia was created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex people, and all of those with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. https://may17.org/

HIV Vaccine Awareness Day

National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) leads this observance. This day is a chance to thank the volunteers, community members, health professionals, and scientists working together to find a safe and effective preventive HIV vaccine. It is also a time to educate communities about the importance of preventive HIV […]