Lone Star College - Office of Internal and Community Relations

National Coming Out Day was first observed on October 11, 1988, to commemorate the 1987 March on Washington for Le***an and Gay Rights. The observance was founded by gay rights activists, Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary, who believed that the more visible the LGBTQIA+ community was in society, the more difficult it would be for others to ignore or discriminate against them. The event has since expanded beyond its American roots and is now celebrated in various countries around the world.

World Mental Health Day is aimed at raising awareness about mental health issues, promoting the mental well-being of society, and advocating for improved access to mental health care. It is an opportunity for mental health professionals, advocates, and people living with mental health conditions to collaborate and share knowledge, tools, and resources to improve mental health care. World Mental Health Day also focuses on destigmatizing mental health issues by educating the public and encouraging open conversations about mental health.

Indigenous Peoples Day is aimed at honoring the rich history, cultures, and contributions of the Indigenous peoples across the Americas. This commemorative day serves as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day, intending to shed light on the historical truth and various experiences of Indigenous peoples.

German-American Day celebrates German culture and heritage in the United States. This holiday also serves to remember 13 German families from Krefeld, Germany that fled religious oppression in Germany. On October 6th, 1683, these families established Germantown, Pennsylvania, the first distinctly German-American settlement. In the centuries that followed, more than seven million more German-speaking immigrants arrived on the shores of the US.

“Although Italy as a unified nation did not exist until 1861, the Italian peninsula has sent millions of its people to the shores of North America. These new arrivals thought of themselves as Neopolitans, Sicilians, Calabrians or Syracuseans. They might not have understood each other’s dialects, but on arrival in the United States they became Italian Americans. By the turn of the 20th century, they would be ready to change the continent once more.”

October was first designated as Down Syndrome Awareness Month in the 1980s and has been recognized every October since. It is a time to celebrate people with Down syndrome and make others aware of their abilities and accomplishments. People with Down syndrome are just like everyone else.

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In 1994, Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher, believed a month should be dedicated to the celebration and teaching of LGBTQUIA+ history, and gathered other teachers and community leaders. They selected October because public schools are in session and existing traditions, such as Coming Out Day (October 11), occur that month.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), also referred to in the United States as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure.

Mexico is the best place to be on September 16, Mexican Independence Day. This holiday celebrates Mexico’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1810. People of Mexican heritage all over the world commemorate this important event in their country’s history when a priest in the village of Dolores rang his church bell and delivered a powerful speech that set the War of Independence from Spain in motion. Even the President of Mexico participates by ringing that same bell — now over 200 years old — live on TV the night before the big celebration.

In October 1683 German families began settling in Pennsylvania. Since then, German Americans have contributed greatly to our society. From Easter Bunny and Santa, to car manufacturing, the building of churches, the arts, and even language and foods. the Germans have had a huge influence on American life as we know it!

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The day of September 15th is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16th and September 18th, respectively.

The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote nationally on August 18, 1920. However it wasn't until a few days later on August 26th, 1920 that U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed a proclamation behind closed doors at 8 a.m. at his own house in Washington, D.C, ending a struggle for the vote that started a century earlier.

On the night of 22 to 23 August 1791, in Saint Domingue, today the Republic of Haiti, saw the beginning of the uprising that would play a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

It is against this background that the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is commemorated on 23 August each year. This International Day is intended to inscribe the tragedy of the slave trade in the memory of all peoples.

There is a saying that goes: It takes a village to raise a child. Similarly, it takes a village to support a person in a humanitarian crisis. With record-high humanitarian needs around the world, this year’s World Humanitarian Day (WHD) builds on this metaphor of collective endeavor to grow global appreciation of humanitarian work.

There are an estimated 476 million indigenous peoples in the world living across 90 countries. They make up less than 5 per cent of the world's population, but account for 15 per cent of the poorest. They speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures. In order to raise awareness of the needs of these population groups, every year on August 9th, we commemorate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

World Population Day is observed on 11 July every year to raise awareness among people about the impact of a growing population and issues including gender equality, the importance of family planning, poverty, maternal health, human rights, etc.

Celebrate Filipino-American Friendship Day on July 4th and honor the special bond between the two countries! This holiday was first created in 1998 as a way to recognize the strong relationship between the United States and The Philippines.

The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence.

French Americans or Franco-Americans are citizens or nationals of the United States who identify themselves with having full or partial French or French-Canadian heritage, ethnicity and/or ancestral ties. July is designated as French-American Heritage Month and is dedicated to celebrating and honoring the influences and the contributions that the French have had on the United States in art, culture, language, etiquette, and more.

Today we celebrate Juneteenth! This annual holiday commemorates the of the end of slavery in the United States after the Civil War. Juneteenth has been celebrated by African Americans since the late 1800s. Today, while some celebrations take place among families in backyards where food is an integral element, some cities, like Atlanta and Washington, hold larger events, including parades and festivals with residents, local businesses and more.

Happy Race Unity Day! This holiday celebrated world wide as an appeal to the larger society to promote a loving embrace of the social reality of ever-increasing racial diversity.

Happy Pride Month!! LGBTQIA+ pride is the promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of le***an, gay, bisexual, and transgender people as a social group. Pride, as opposed to shame and social stigma, is the predominant outlook that bolsters most LGBTQIA+ rights movements.

This month, we celebrate the enduring heritage of Jewish Americans, whose values, culture, and contributions have shaped our character as a Nation. For generations, the story of the Jewish people — one of resilience, faith, and hope in the face of adversity, prejudice and persecution — has been woven into the fabric of our Nation’s story. It has driven us forward in our ongoing march for justice, equality, and freedom as we recommit to upholding the principles of our Nation’s founding and realizing the promise of America for all Americans.

CDC supports Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM), founded in 1927 by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Each May, this annual event provides an opportunity to raise awareness about hearing and speech problems, and to encourage people to think about their own hearing and get their hearing checked.

Early identification and intervention for hearing loss is important. Many people live with unidentified hearing loss, often failing to realize that they are missing certain sounds and words. Checking one’s hearing is the first step toward addressing the issue.

A great example of how language, acronyms, and terminology change over time is in regards to the acronyms “AAPI” and “APIDA”. AAPI stands for Asian American Pacific Islander and started formally being used in the 1990s as a category in the U.S. Census. Since 2010 a newer term, “APIDA” has been used in order to be more inclusive of South Asians. APIDA stands for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American, with the Desi term representing South Asian identifying people.

During National Mental Health Awareness Month, we honor the absolute courage of the tens of millions of Americans living with mental health conditions, and we celebrate the loved ones and mental health professionals who are there for them every day. Treatment works, and there is no shame in seeking it. Together, we will keep fighting to get everyone access to the care they need to live full and happy lives.

World Asthma Day seeks to raise awareness about asthma and improve the lives of those affected by it. Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways within the lungs. It is believed to be caused by genetic or environmental factors. Symptoms may stem from an obstructed airflow or spasms of the airways in the lungs. These may include wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath. There are no known cures for asthma. There are, however, measures and methods such as inhalers that make living with it more comfortable.

May Day is also recognized as International Worker's Day, or Labor Day. This day commemorates workers rights and the labor movement. One popular cause that this day commemorates is the eight-hour workday.

Le***an Visibility Day seeks to acknowledge and celebrate le***ans. This day aims to raise awareness about the stereotypes, judgments, and lack of representation that le***ans face. It hopes to encourage closet-le***ans to come out and be their authentic selves within a community that empowers them. This day also promotes acceptance of other LGBTQ groups as well as those of marginalized ethnicities or nationalities. It aims to create a safe and accepting community for all.

Le***an Visibility Day was established in 2008 as a way for le***ans to be empowered and celebrated. It is observed annually on April 26th.

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Earth Day seeks to highlight and promote efforts dedicated to the protection of the environment. As we enter the 21st century, we face many environmental crises including global warming, deforestation, endangered wildlife, shortages of potable water, and widespread pollution. These crises negatively affect our planet’s resources, and they pose serious risk to our long-term lifestyles and health.

Today, Earth Day is celebrated by billions of people around the world and is observed in over 190 countries. Worldwide, Earth Day celebrations utilize educational programs to inform people of ways that can help protect the environment and its natural resources. It is observed annually on April 22nd.

Eid-al-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر‎) is a day of feasting. It is celebrated by Muslims to congratulate themselves for fasting the month of Ramadan. It is celebrated on the first of Shawwal (the 10th month of the lunar Islamic calendar). This Eid is a reward to the Muslims who spent the month of Ramadan fasting and in worship. Like Eid al Adha, this Eid begins early in the morning with a prayer held in a large, open area. Before the Eid prayer, Muslims are obligated to pay Zakat-al-Fitr, a charity that goes to poorer families who cannot otherwise engage in the festivities.

What starts at Lone Star College, goes far!

While attending a conference in Baltimore, Maryland, our Chief Diversity Officer, Carlecia Wright ran into Levi, a Starbucks barista who graduated from in 2019!

Songkran Festival (Lao New Year) celebrates the end of the dry season and the start of the monsoon season. Known as Pii Mai, it is a time for rebirth and purification. It spans three days. During this time, people pray at temples, hold ceremonies, and host parties. Another common tradition is to spray people with water.

International Day of Pink seeks to create a more inclusive and diverse world. This day encourages people to challenge social norms, ask more questions of educators, and stand up against bullying. It further aims to show solidarity with the LGBTQ community by encouraging everyone to wear a pink shirt.

International Day of Pink was founded in 2007 by the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD). This day was inspired by two students, David Shepherd and Travis Price. They encouraged their school to all wear pink as a sign of solidarity and to stand against bullying.

World Parkinson’s Day seeks to raise awareness and to support the advanced research of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a disorder which affects the central nervous system and leads to the decline in movement, dopamine levels, and balance. According to Harvard medical researchers, while the cause and cure for Parkinson’s is unknown, men are 1.5 times more likely to have Parkinson’s disease than women. Parkinson’s Disease Day is celebrated annually on April 11th to coincide with Dr. James Parkinson’s birthday.

Easter commemorates Jesus' resurrection three days after his crucifixion and death. Following his death, he was removed from the cross and buried in a tomb. On Sunday, Jesus' tomb was found empty. Angels informed onlookers that Jesus had risen. Throughout the next 40 days, Jesus appeared to his apostles and disciples before finally ascending to heaven.

World Health Day seeks to raise awareness about a major global health concern selected by the World Health Organization. This day aims to increase awareness about the selected health concern and hopes to encourage countries to focus their resources on addressing it.

The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded on April 7, 1948 to better address the needs of global health issues.

Good Friday commemorates the day that Jesus was crucified. Following Jesus' arrest, he was found guilty of proclaiming himself to be the King of Jews. He was sentenced to crucifixion. This day is celebrated a number of ways. These include taking down the cross in the Orthodox faith to recounting the story of Jesus' last days, which is called the Passion of Christ.

National Walking Day seeks to raise awareness about the benefits of walking. This day encourages everyone to take at least 30 minutes out of their day to go for a walk. According to the American Heart Association, walking can help lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also help with maintaining a healthy weight. National Walking Day was established in 2007 by the American Heart Association.

Passover (Hebrew: פסח) is a seven-day Jewish festival that celebrates the Israelites fleeing from Egypt about 3,300 years ago. Passover is called such because the Israelites marked their door frames with a sign. It is believed that because of this sign, God passed over their houses during the plague of the firstborn.