Help us to curate an equity, diversity, and inclusion calendar

We are a diverse community and celebrate many culturally significant dates, some with religious roots, and others that recognize our different heritages and identities.

As part of our ongoing equity, diversity and inclusion efforts, we are curating an “equity, diversity, and inclusion calendar”. The purpose of an equity calendar is to raise awareness of and acknowledge our diverse communities, as well as to help when planning important events.

We’re highlighting dates such as religious observances, days of special interest to scientists, and days/weeks/months that raise awareness of the many identities we bring to our work. This list has a focus on days recognized in the US and internationally. (Note – for a list of plant science events, be sure to check out our Global Plant Science Events Calendar, as well as our ASPB events calendar).

What did we miss? Please add your comments below, along with any suggestions for days we should include in this calendar. If possible, indicate the countries or communities that recognize the event you add.

September 2021

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 – Oct 15) (US)
September 7 – Rosh Hashanah begins (Jewish)
September 16 – Yom Kippur (Jewish) (begins sundown September 15)
September 20 – Sukkot begins (Jewish)
September 20-26 – International Week of Deaf People
September 20-24 – Postdoc appreciation week #NPAW2021
September 21 – International Day of Peace
September 21 – Mid-Autumn Festival / mooncake festival
September 22 – Autumnal equinox
September 23 – Bi visibility day
September 28 – Simchat Torah

October 2021

Black History Month (UK, Ireland)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
LGBTQ History Month
ADHD Awareness Month
October 6 – Navrati begins (Hindu)
October 10 – World Mental Health Day
October 11 – National Coming Out Day (LGBTQIAA+)
October 11 – National Indigenous Peoples’ Day (US)
October 12 – Ada Lovelace Day (Celebrating women in STEM)
October 15 – White Cane Safety Day (Blind awareness)
October 17 – Spirit Day (LGBTQIAA+ anti-bullying)
October 19 – Eid Milad ul-Nabi (Muslim)
October 20 – Sikh Holy Day (birth of Guru Granth)
October 22 – International Stuttering Awareness Day
October 31 – Dia de los Muertos begins

November 2021

Native American Heritage Month
Movember (awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer)
November 4 – Diwali (Hindu)
November 11 – Veterans Day (US)
November 14 – World Diabetes Day
November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 25 – Thanksgiving (US)
November 26 – Native American Heritage Day
November 28 – Hanukkah begins (Jewish)

December 2021

December 1 – World AIDS Day
December 3 – International Day for People with Disabilities
December 10 – International Human Rights Day
December 21 – Winter Solstice
December 25 – Christmas (Christian)
December 26 – Kwanzaa begins
December 31 – New Year’s Eve

January 2022

January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 4 – World Braille Day
January 7 – Christmas (Eastern Orthodox)
January 17 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 24 – International Day of Education
January 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day

February 2022

Black History Month (US and Canada)
February 1 – National Freedom Day (US)
February 1 — Chinese New Year (Year of the Tiger)
February 11 – International Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 15 – Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
February 17 – Ash Wednesday (Christian)
February 20 – World Day of Social Justice

March 2022

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness and Education Month
National Women’s History Month
March 1 – Maha Shivarati (Hindu)
March 2 – Ash Wednesday (Christian)
March 8 – International Women’s Day
March 11 – Maha Shivarati (Hindu)
March 16-17 – Purim (Jewish)
March 19 – Holi (Hindu)
March 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 31 – International Transgender Day of Visibility

April 2022

Autism Awareness Month
April 2 – Ramadan begins (Muslim)
April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day
April 2 – Equal Pay Day (Raises awareness of women’s wage gap)
April 10 – Palm Sunday (Christian)
April 15 – Good Friday (Christian)
April 15-23 – Passover (Jewish)
April 17 – Easter (Christian)
April 22 – Earth Day
April 23 – National Day of Silence (LGBTQIAA+)
April 27-28 – Yom Hashoah (Jewish)
April 8 – Laylat al-Qadr (Muslim)
April 30 – Ramadan ends (Muslim)

May 2022

ALS Awareness Month
Mental Health Month
May 3 – Eid al-Fitr (Muslim)
May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
May 19 – Global Accessibility Awareness Day
May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
May 30 – Memorial Day (US)

June 2022

Pride Month (LGBTQIAA+)
June 12 – Loving Day (The anniversary of a historic court decision for interracial marriage)
June 19 – Juneteenth
June 22 – National Indigenous Peoples Day (Canada)
June 20 – World Refugee Day
June 21 –Summer Solstice
June 24 – Pride Day (LGBTQIAA+) (varies by city and country)

July 2022

July 9 – Eid al-Adha (Muslim)
July 26 – National Disability Independence Day (commemorates the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act) (US)
July 30 – Hijri New Year (Muslim)

August 2022