Diversity Awareness Days
- 04 January ~ World Braille Day
- 20 January ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- 27 January ~ Holocaust Memorial Day
- 01 February ~ LGBT+ History Month
- 01 February ~ World Interfaith Harmony Week
- 17 February ~ Random Acts of Kindness Day
- 21 February ~ International Mother Language Day
- 01 March ~ Zero Discrimination Day
- 08 March ~ International Women's Day
- 21 March ~ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- 31 March ~ Transgender Day of Visibility
- 05 April ~ Golden Rule Day
- 07 April ~ World Health Day
- 18 April ~ World Heritage Day
- 01 May ~ International Workers Day
- 05 May ~ African World Heritage Day
- 2nd Monday of May ~ Mental Health Awareness Week
- 17 May ~ International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
- 21 May ~ World Cultural Diversity Day
- 25 May ~ Africa Day
- 01 June ~ Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month
- 01 June ~ Pride Month
- 18 July ~ Nelson Mandela Day
- 30 July ~ International Day of Friendship
- 09 August ~ International Day of the World's Indigenous People
- 26 September ~ European Day of Languages
- 01 October ~ Black History Month
- 01 October ~ International Day of Older Persons
- 10 October ~ World Mental Health Day
- Beginning on Remembrance Sunday ~ Inter Faith Week
- 11 November ~ Remembrance Day
- 03 December ~ International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- 10 December ~ Human Rights Day
Our Stories
Sexism
Emma's Story
I graduated top of my class with a degree in computer science and secured a job at a prestigious startup known for its cutting-edge projects. The office was predominantly male, and while my colleagues were friendly enough, during meetings, my ideas were often met with polite nods but rarely taken seriously. More frustratingly, when I suggested innovative solutions, my male counterparts would rephrase my ideas and receive praise for them. I had been working tirelessly on a complex algorithm that could potentially revolutionize the company's main product. I presented my findings in a team meeting, laying out my thought process and the potential impact of my work. The room was silent and it wasn't until a male colleague presented my idea, that it was taken seriously and he'd received praise for it. I was stunned. I realized that my contributions were being systematically undervalued because of my gender so I started documenting my work meticulously, sending detailed emails to my manager outlining my contributions and ideas and was able to prove, with documented evidence, that the innovative algorithm driving their success was my creation. The project lead took notice, and I finally received the recognition I deserved.
Homophobia
Alex's Story
I had always been passionate about my job where I worked as a creative director but from my first day, I noticed a subtle chill whenever I mentioned my partner, Michael. Casual conversations about weekend plans would abruptly shift when I brought up my relationship. I tried to brush it off, hoping it was just my imagination, but the snide remarks and exclusion from after-work gatmyings became too frequent to ignore. One day, during a team meeting, I proposed a bold new idea for an ad campaign that celebrated diversity and inclusion. As I spoke, I saw a few colleagues exchange uncomfortable glances. After the meeting, my manager, Tom, pulled me aside. "Alex, maybe you should tone it down a bit. Not everyone is comfortable with these topics," Tom said, his tone dismissive. I felt a wave of frustration and hurt. I realized that my workplace, which prided itself on being forward-thinking and creative, was still mired in outdated prejudices. Determined to fight back, I documented these incidents and sought support from HR, hoping to foster a more inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, could feel valued and respected.
Racism
Maya's Story
I have always been proud of my my heritage and my role as a software engineer at NexTech Innovations. As one of the few women of color in the company, I faced the challenge of proving my worth daily. Despite my stellar performance and innovative solutions, I often found myself sidelined in meetings and overlooked for key projects. My ideas were frequently dismissed, only to be accepted later when reiterated by a white colleague. The most painful incident occurred during a team brainstorming session when a coworker made a disparaging remark about my accent, implying it made me less competent. The breaking point came when a promotion I had been working towards for months was given to someone with less experience but who fit the "company image" better. Feeling marginalized and frustrated, I decided to speak up. I approached HR with detailed records of the biases I had encountered, advocating not just for myself but for the few other minority employees at NexTech. My courage sparked difficult yet necessary conversations within the company, leading to diversity training programs and a renewed commitment to creating an inclusive workplace. My perseverance helped pave the way for a more equitable environment, where all employees had the opportunity to thrive based on their talents and hard work.
Ableism
Lily's Story
I have experienced ableism within my working environments. As someone with neurodevelopmental and physical disabilities I am often discriminated against by not receiving the appropriate accomodations for my disabilities often with statements of "so and so has the same issues and they don't need this" or "if we provide this to you everyone will want the same priviledges". Accomodations are not a priviledge, they are a necessity to function and create an equitable environment. Despite my challenges I go on to receive high praise and have accomplished many things people thought impossible. Fight for your right to have the necessary and appropriate accomodations.