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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month is currently celebrated in the U.S. each year in the month of June to commemorate the violent police raid on the Stonewall Inn LGBT bar 1969 in Manhattan, NY. Within weeks of the raid, Greenwich Village residents organized into activist groups demanding the right to live openly regarding their sexual orientation, and without fear of being arrested. This was the tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the U.S. Within months of the raid, three newspapers were established across the country to promote rights for gay men, lesbians and bisexual people.
On the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, the first Pride march was held in New York City — June 28, 1970. Thousands of homosexuals went to the streets to demonstrate against centuries of abuse ... from government hostility to employment and housing discrimination, Mafia control of Gay bars, and anti-Homosexual laws. By all estimates, there were three to five thousand marchers at the inaugural Pride in New York City, and today marchers in New York City number in the millions. Since 1970, LGBTQ+ people have continued to gather together in June all across the U.S. to march with Pride and demonstrate for equal rights.
Contemporary celebrations go beyond just marches and include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts. LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.
The symbol of LGBTQ+ Pride Month is generally the rainbow flag. The stripes of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple reflect the diversity of the LGBTQ community and the spectrum of human sexuality and gender. The more modern flag version is the Progress Pride flag designed to bring focus on even more inclusion of marginalized subgroups and progress within the community. All with good intentions are welcome at gay pride celebrations! Greet other celebrants with "Happy Pride!"
Ways to Celebrate
TBA: Celebration in Provincetown (Details awaited)
TBA: Celebration in Boston
Acton-Westford Pride Event (TBD)
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Launched in 2014 and commemorated annually in June, this year marks the 10th Annual National Immigrant Heritage Month in the U.S. This recognition honors the rich historical, societal, and cultural contributions of immigrants to American history. The vibrant identity of the United States is formed by the courageous individuals who come from diverse corners of the globe in search of refuge and prosperity. Immigrants have woven their sacrifices into the fabric of our nation, and the American dream of limitless possibilities has been fostered and propelled forward by these visionary newcomers.
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Caribbean-American Heritage Month is celebrated in the U.S. in June to honor the achievements and contributions of Caribbean immigrants and their descendants living in the United States, particularly in government, sports, entertainment, and the arts. Events are held throughout the month celebrating and educating the public about Caribbean-American history and culture.
Ways to Celebrate
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World Environment Day (WED) was first held in 1973 and is celebrated annually on 5 June to encourage awareness and action for the protection of the environment. It is supported by many non-governmental organizations, businesses, government entities, and represents the primary United Nations outreach day supporting the environment.
Each year has a unique host city around the world with a contemporary topic of relevance. The 2024 event will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with the topic "Accelerating Land Restoration, Drought Resilience & Desertification Progress."
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In the United States, National Flag Day is an annual observance for all Americans always held on June 14, but it is not a federal holiday. Each year the sitting president encourages all Americans to display the U.S. flag outside their homes and businesses. See the ettiquette link below for proper rules and guidelines to display the U.S. flag with respect.
What we know fondly as the “Stars and Stripes” was adopted by the Continental Congress as the official American flag on June 14, 1777, in the midst of the Revolutionary War.
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Muslims around the world & in the United States observe the start of the Islamic New Year on the first day of Muharram, which is the first month in the Islamic calendar. The Shi'a and Sunni denominations of Islam attach different significance to these events and mark them in different ways.
Significance of Muharram
Islamic New Year: The beginning of Muharram marks the start of the Islamic, or Hijri, year, a time for spiritual reflection and setting new goals.
Sacred Month: The word "Muharram" means "forbidden" or "sacred," referring to the prohibition of warfare and injustice during this period.
Spiritual Rewards: Muslims are encouraged to engage in increased worship and good deeds, as the blessings and rewards for these acts are believed to be magnified.
Commemoration of History: Muharram also commemorates the Prophet Muhammad's migration to Medina, a pivotal moment in the preservation of Islam.
Observances by Sect
Shia Muslims: The most significant observance is the mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, and his companions in the Battle of Karbala.
Ashura: The 10th day of Muharram is a major event, with mourning ceremonies and processions.
Mourning Practices: Many Shia Muslims wear black clothing to signify grief, and some participate in public processions and other acts of remembrance.
Sunni Muslims: Sunni Muslims also respect Muharram as a sacred month.
Ashura Fasting: The 10th day of Muharram is also a day of voluntary fasting for Sunnis, a tradition established by the Prophet Muhammad to express gratitude for God's deliverance of Moses and his people from the Pharaoh.
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Father’s Day is celebrated annually on the third Sunday in June in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, and a number of other countries around the world. It celebrates and honors the men who have embraced the essential role of fatherhood. On this day, we also thank fathers and father figures (uncles, grandfathers) for the sacrifices they make, for embracing the responsibility of nurturing and raising children, and for their devotion to their families.
Since not every family has one mom and one dad, some schools and families celebrate a gender-neutral Parents' Day or Family Day instead of Mother's and Father's Days.
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Juneteenth (officially Juneteenth National Independence Day) is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the end of slavery. It is also known as Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day. The name “Juneteenth” references the date of the holiday, combining the words “June” and “nineteenth.”
It is celebrated on the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when as the American Civil War was ending, Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas. Even though in 1863 President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared more than three million slaves living in the Confederate states to be free, more than two years passed before the proclamation was enforced for African Americans living in Texas.
Originating in Galveston, TX, Juneteenth has since been observed annually in various parts of the United States, often broadly celebrating African-American culture.
Ways to Celebrate
Juneteenth Flag Raising, Westford Town Common (Time/Venue TBD)
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The summer solstice occurs when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that Northern hemisphere, that day in 2024 is June 20. The summer solstice is the day with the longest period of daylight and shortest night of the year, when the Sun is at its highest position in the sky. At either pole there is continuous daylight at the time of its summer solstice. The opposite event is called the winter solstice.
People around the world celebrate the day with feasts, bonfires, parties, picnics, and traditional songs and dances.
In Paganism, this day is called Litha, also known as Midsummer, is a prominent holiday honoring the sun and fire. Pagan celebrations during this holiday have themes of strength, growth, success and wealth. Litha also celebrates the abundance of nature and honors sacred bodies of water.
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The anniversary of marriage equality in the U.S. is June 26, commemorating the Supreme Court's landmark 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which made same-sex marriage legal nationwide. The ruling affirmed that the fundamental right to marry applies to same-sex couples under the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment. Obergefell v. Hodges estalished a ruling that requires states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and to recognize same-sex marriages validly performed in other jurisdictions.
Every American now lives in 50 states and 4 U.S. territories where same-sex couples are able to legally marry. LGBTQ families, including their children, are now allowed to enjoy the same benefits and protections as any other family.
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