Events

Wear Purple to show your support for Anti-LGBTQ+ Bullying 💜

In early October 2010, Canadian teenager Brittany McMillan promulgated the observance of a new commemoration called Spirit Day, the first observance of which took place on October 20, 2010; it now however takes place on October 16. On this day people wear the color purple to show support for LGBT youth who are victims of bullying. Promoted by GLAAD, many Hollywood celebrities wear purple on this day to show their support of this cause, and many websites add a prominent purple shade to their design.

International Pronouns Day seeks to make respecting and sharing our personal pronouns commonplace. Though it is an international awareness day, it is recognized that not all languages gender in ways that make this issue urgent or relevant and the campaign is largely rooted in the needs of English-language communities. According to organizers of International Pronoun Day: “Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. Together, we can transform society to celebrate people’s multiple, intersecting identities.”

Intersex Awareness Day is an internationally observed civil awareness day designed to highlight the challenges faced by intersex people. The event marks the first public demonstration by intersex people in North America. On October 26, 1996, intersex activists from Intersex Society of North America (carrying the sign “Hermaphrodites With Attitude”) and allies from Transexual Menace demonstrated in Boston, outside the venue where the American Academy of Pediatrics was holding its annual conference. Intersex Awareness Day is an international day of grass-roots action to end shame, secrecy and unwanted genital cosmetic surgeries on intersex children. Between October 26 and November 8, intersex organizations try to bring attention to the challenges intersex individuals face, culminating in the Intersex Day of Remembrance on the birthday of Herculine Barbin, also sometimes known as Intersex Solidarity Day.