There are lots of days on the calendar that are “days of observance” or celebration for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders and the rest of the LGBTQ+ population. May 17 is another one of those days.
According to presidential proclamation, it’s IDAHOBIT Day, and it has nothing to do with Tater Tots.
It’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
President Joe Biden has issued a message, that begins with: “On the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, my Administration stands in support and solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) people around the world as they seek to live full lives, free from violence and discrimination. This is a matter of human rights, plain and simple. The United States applauds those individuals and groups worldwide working to defend the rights of LGBTQI+ people wherever they are under threat. And we are grateful for the contributions that LGBTQI+ people make every day across our nation.”
Read his entire 504-word statement here.
It was the first of several proclamations issued by the White House on Friday, including Hepatitis Testing Day, Armed Forces Day, and National Boating Safety Week.
But don’t blow your entire budget on this one observance. Next week you’ll have another shot: – May 24 is Pansexual Day, and then the entire month of June is set aside for Pride Month.
Can’t keep up? Here’s a partial list of LGBTQ+ days of observances, beginning with Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, which is the antidote to Valentines Day.
Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week – Week after February 14
A week to promote information and awareness about aromantic spectrum identities and the issues they face.
Trans Day of Visibility – March 31
A day to celebrate the trans community in a positive light, celebrating their lives and cultural achievements. This observance date was founded in 2009 by transgender activist Rachel Crandall-Crocker, the head of Transgender Michigan.
International Asexuality Day – April 6
Includes demisexual, grey-asexual and other identities.
Lesbian Visibility Day – April 26
Annual day to celebrate, recognize, and bring visibility to lesbians.
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia – May 17
To raise awareness of violence, discrimination, abuse, and repression of LGBT communities worldwide.
Agender Pride Day – May 19
A day celebrated internationally to promote awareness of agender individuals.
Pansexual & Panromantic Awareness Day – May 24
An annual day to promote awareness of, and celebrate, pansexual and panromantic identities.
LGBT Pride Month – All of June
June is celebrated as Pride in honor of the Stonewall Riots, though Pride events occur all year round. It also marks the month that same-sex marriage was legalized in the United States.
Pulse Night of Remembrance – June 12
Annual day of US remembrance for the loss of 49 LGBT people in the Pulse Nightclub shooting by a Muslim terrorist in Orlando, Fla.
Stonewall Riots Anniversary – June 28
A day to remember the Stonewall Riots, a reaction to the NYPD raid of the Stonewall Inn. This initial event was a galvanizing force for LGBT political activism, and argued by some to be the birth of the gay rights movement, in the United States and around the world.
Non-Binary Awareness Week The week of July 14
A week dedicated to non-binary people.
Non-Binary People’s Day – July 14
An annual day to celebrate and bring visibility to people who are non-binary in the LGBT+ community. The date is the precise midpoint between International Men’s Day and International Women’s Day.
Bisexual Awareness Week – September 16-22
Also referred to as BiWeek and Bisexual+ Awareness Week, a week to celebrate bisexual identity.
Celebrate Bisexuality Day – September 23
Also referred to as Bisexual Pride Day, CBD, Bisexual Pride, and Bi Visibility Day.
LGBT History Month – All of October
Declared a national history month by President Barack Obama in 2009, the month was created with the intent to encourage openness and education about LGBT history and rights.
Lesbian Day – Oct. 8
An annual day celebrating lesbian culture that originated in New Zealand and Australia, but is now celebrated internationally.
National Coming Out Day – Oct. 11
A day to celebrate the act of coming out, founded in the United States by gay rights activists Robert Eichberg and Jean O’ Leary on 1988 in Washington, DC, United States.
Pronouns Day – Third Wednesday in October
An annual event that seeks to make sharing, respecting and educating about personal pronouns commonplace.
Spirit Day – Third Thursday in October
Day of support for LGBTQ+ youth who are the victims of bullying, as well as to honor LGBTQ+ victims of bullying-related suicide.
Asexual Awareness Week – Last week of October
Week to promote awareness of those on the asexual spectrum.
Intersex Awareness Day – Oct. 26
Celebrated in October to commemorate the first intersex protest, which took place in Boston, Massachusetts.
Trans Awareness Month – All of November
A month to celebrate transgender and gender nonconforming communities and to raise awareness for this community through education and advocacy activities.
Trans Parent Day – First Sunday in November
A day that celebrates life and the love between transgender parents and their children, and between parents and their transgender children.
Intersex Day of Remembrance – Nov. 8
A day designed to raise awareness of the issues faced by intersex people. It marks the birthday of Herculine Barbin, a French intersex person.
Trans Awareness Week – Nov. 13-19
A week to educate about transgender and gender non-conforming people, and the issues associated with their transition and/or identity.
Transgender Day of Remembrance – Nov. 20
A day to memorialize those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia.
World AIDS Day – Dec. 1
An international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease.
(Editor’s note: With help from Wikipedia and University of Michigan.)
