June DEI Observances
It’s officially summertime, and the month of June brings with it various cultural celebrations, religious holidays and awareness days.
Get your team together and take the time to acknowledge these special occurrences in order to build a more inclusive workplace!
List of DEI Observances in June 2024
June 1-30 Pride Month celebrates all members of the LGBTQ+ community. The rainbow is a common symbol seen throughout the month. When discussing Pride Month, many reflect on the Stonewall Riots from 1969, which paved the way for LGBTQ+ rights today, with annual events spread right across the globe.
📣Check out our Pride Month Training
📅Looking for a Pride Month communications template to share with your team?
June 1-30 National Indigenous History Month in Canada is a time to celebrate the diversity and resilience of Indigenous Peoples. Turtle Island (North America) was home to Indigenous Peoples long before Canada was established.
📣Check out our National Indigenous History Month Training
June 11-13 Shavuot is often referred to as the "Festival of Weeks" and a Jewish holiday that commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.
June 14-19 Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muslims must partake at least once in their lifetime, given they are financially and physically able to do so. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and one ritual of Hajj includes walking counterclockwise seven times around the Kaaba.
June 16-20 Eid al-Adha follows the annual Hajj pilgrimage. During this time, Muslims commemorate the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah (God). Prayers are said, feasts are held, and gifts are exchanged.
📅Looking for a Eid al-Adha communications template to share with your team?
June 16 Father’s Day While it is not a public holiday, Father's Day is celebrated by showing appreciation for father's and father figures. This may include giving gifts, shared meals and other activities.
June 19 Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of slavery in the United States and celebrates African American culture. On June 19, 1865 Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to inform everyone that the war was over and slavery was abolished. Recently this event has grown in popularity across America and the rest of the world.
📣Check out our Juneteenth Training
📅Looking for a Juneteenth communications template to share with your team?
June 20 World Refugee Day honors people around the world that were forced to leave their country due to conflict or persecution. This day encourages others to understand the plight of refugees.
June 21 National Indigenous Peoples Day, celebrated in Canada since 1996, recognizes the contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis nations while remembering the difficult history of Indigenous Peoples.
📣Check out our National Indigenous History Month Training
📅Looking for a National Indigenous Peoples Day communications template to share with your team?
June 21 Summer Solstice is also known as the First Day of Summer. It is the longest day and shortest night of the year. During the Summer Solstice, the North Pole is maximally tilted toward the Sun.