October 2025

Awareness Months
LGBTQIA++ History Month
Global Diversity Awareness Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Hindu Heritage Month
National Italian American Heritage Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Observances:
Yom Kippur - October 1 - 2, 2025
Sukkot - October 6 - 13, 2025
National Coming Out Day - October 11
International Day of the Girl - October 11
Indigenous People’s Day - October 13
Shemini Atzeret - October 13 - 15
Simchat Torah - October 14 - 15
International Pronoun Day - October 15
Diwali - October 20
Birth of the Bab – Baha-I October 22

LGBTQIA++ History Month
LGBTQIA+ History Month, not to be confused with Pride Month in June, is a month of observance in October created to highlight the achievements and recognize the struggles of LGBTQIA+ identifying people. In collaboration with the Equality Forum, the LGBTQIA+ History Month website also selects a new LGBTQIA+ icon every day for 31 days, from past and present, to spotlight and recognize their contributions to the community. 

LGBTQIA+ History was established by Rodney Wilson, the first openly gay teacher and graduate student at the University of Missouri-St. Louis came out to his history class in 1994 during a lesson about the persecution of gay and LGBTQIA+ people during the Holocaust. Feeling inspired by the positive response, Wilson made it his mission to teach youth about LGBTQIA+ history, writing the first article about Gay History published by the Missouri Historical Society, paving the way for the first ‘Gay History Month’ event being celebrated at his University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Here in NYC, LGBTQIA+ History Month is celebrated through events and exhibitions across the city, such as at the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, panel discussions at select NYPL locations, and walking tours of historical LGBTQIA+ sites via the NYC LGBTQIA+ Historic Sites Project. Other forms of celebration include locally organized events at LGBTQIA+ community centers and spaces. 

Global Diversity Awareness Month
Global Diversity Awareness Month is celebrated worldwide every October to recognize the value that comes with diversity, promoting understanding and respect for others’ cultural practices. It emphasizes the impact that being familiar with others' cultures can have on interpersonal relationships. By inviting and welcoming all types of cultures and backgrounds, we strengthen our communities and workspaces by having a mosaic of perspectives, enabling us to see things from multiple angles.

Global Diversity Awareness Month has its roots in the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, a response to the atrocities witnessed during World War II, and the global demand for recognizing fundamental human rights for all people. Although there is no officially established date of creation for the month, it gained popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, evolving into what it is today.

Global Diversity Awareness Month is typically celebrated through events hosted by universities and their international student communities, film screenings, and DIY-based events around New York City.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month, or DVAM for short, is observed annually during October to acknowledge, raise public awareness, and provide resources to and about victims of domestic violence. It’s a period of time dedicated to honoring victims, including those who may have lost their lives, and how one can familiarize themselves with the warning signs of abuse. Domestic Violence Awareness Month encourages friends and family to speak up, support victims, and connect and convene with one another. 

DVAM has its roots in the first consultation on battered women, held by the United States Commission on Civil Rights in January 1978. This led to the formation of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which in turn inspired over 100,000 women to protest in the street, paving the way for the creation of a ‘Day of Unity’ being declared by the NCDAV in October 1981, to raise awareness for victims of domestic violence. Over time, it transitioned from a day to a week, and by October 1987, the first DVAM was observed.

DVAM is often observed through events of recognition, vigils, online campaigns, as well as educational programs offered by various organizations such as Safe Horizon, the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence.  Some events include the Annual Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil in Brooklyn, organized by the North Brooklyn Coalition against Family Violence, as well as NYC’s ‘Go Purple’ Day on October 17th, where several NYC landmarks like City Hall are lit up in all purple lighting to commemorate those who have been affected by domestic violence.  One of the online campaigns run by the NNEDV, or National Network to End Domestic Violence, is ‘#Every1KnowsSome1,’ encouraging victims/friends, and family of those affected to speak up.

Hindu Heritage Month
Hindu Heritage Month (HHM), launched in 2021, is celebrated every October, with over three million Hindus in America (and over one billion worldwide) participating to foster community among the diverse Hindu population. The month is designed to highlight the broad contributions of Hindu culture globally, from the spread of yoga and meditation to the influence of Hindu philosophy on figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., and more. The month of October was chosen to host Hindu Heritage Month due to the array of Hindu events celebrated around this time, including Navaratri, Dussehra, and Deepavali.

The first observance of Hindu Heritage Month began in 2021, following the collaboration of over 100 organizations worldwide to designate and celebrate October as the start of the inaugural Hindu Heritage Month. Following this, US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorty from Illinois read a statement acknowledging and recognizing the establishment of Hindu Heritage Month on the congressional record, symbolically validating the observance on a national level. Since then, states such as New Jersey, Texas, and Ohio, among others, have passed resolutions officially recognizing the month. 

During HHM, temple programs, cultural displays & showcases, as well as educational panels, are some of the many ways HHM is celebrated here. In NYC, the Association of Indians in America (AIA-NY) hosts an annual Deepavali Festival at the South Street Seaport, followed by the “Diwali Celebration at the Seaport” organized by The Culture Tree, which includes food, dance performances, traditional art-related workshops, and more. 

National Italian American Heritage Month
National Italian American Heritage Month is observed every October, commemorating the contributions, achievements, and history of Italian Americans. With over 26 million people of Italian descent/immigrants, the month provides a space for community-wide reflection, sharing migrant stories, preserving traditions, and more.

The concept of an Italian Heritage Month came about in 1989 when Congress formalized Resolution 392 to establish it, with then-President George H. W. Bush proclaiming in 1990, officially recognizing October as ‘Italian American Heritage and Culture Month.’ Other states followed suit by ratifying the month through their own proclamations, such as Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New Hampshire, among others, in the following years.

In NYC, Italian Heritage Month is celebrated through concerts and lectures provided by organizations like the Italian Heritage & Culture Committee, as well as exhibits and reading programs at the NYPL. It also includes the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, the Morris Park Columbus Day Parade in the Bronx, and the Astoria Columbus Day Parade in Queens, which the Federation of Italian American Organizations of Queens organizes. In other parts of the US, cities like Boston raise the Italian flag across City Hall and host various feasts featuring food, art, music, and other cultural events.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month, also known as NDEAM, is recognized and observed annually in October. The month spotlights awareness and inclusivity across all workspaces in America, promoting discrimination-free employment practices. The U.S. Department of Labor, through its Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), federally leads the observance of Labor Day, providing resources, tools, and themed messaging for employers.

Initially, first observed in 1945, Congress had declared the first week of October as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped” to bolster awareness about the employment needs of people with disabilities. In 1962, however, the term ‘physically’ was removed to be all-inclusive of all disabilities. It was then expanded into a month in 1988, with Congress also renaming it "National Disability Employment Awareness Month.”

In NYC, observances include specially designated recruitment events for people with disabilities, typically run by NYC: ATWOK with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. Alongside this, other organizations, such as CUNY SPS, help host and participate in the NYC Disability Pride Parade. Nationally, organizations such as the Helen Keller National Center hold events like webinars and lectures.

Yom Kippur Wed, Oct 1, 2025 – Thu, Oct 2, 2025

Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is a Jewish holiday that fosters a sense of community. It is a time to come together, reflect, seek forgiveness for wrongdoings committed during the past year, and resolve to do better going forward. For millennia, Yom Kippur has been regarded as the most important and holy day in the annual Jewish calendar. It is a time when Jewish people turn inward to repent, apologize, and atone, strengthening their bond as a community that comes together to each say, “I’m sorry” to G-d, confident that His response will be one of love and forgiveness.

Yom Kippur begins this year at sundown on Wednesday, October 1, and continues through nightfall on Thursday, October 2.

Followers of the Jewish faith also take the time to reflect and remember loved ones who are no longer with them. When reflecting during Yom Kippur, Jews observe a special prayer called Yizkor, which is a series of readings and prayers that sets the mood for the solemn service. There are paragraphs where individuals silently chant, recalling the deceased, including memorable passages for fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, other relatives, friends, and Jewish martyrs. Additionally, people of the Jewish faith fast for 25 hours from the beginning of the holiday through the evening of the day after the holiday.

Followers of Judaism look forward to the year ahead and pray that when the Lord closes the Book of Life, they continue to be included in its pages!

In NYC, synagogues hold services for Kol Nidre on the eve of Yom Kippur, followed by day-long services and afternoon prayer.. Some school districts and public institutions across America will either close or grant excused absences for those who observe the holiday. 

For more information regarding Yom Kippur, visit Britannica.com.

 *Many people of the Jewish faith do not fully spell out the written word G-d as a sign of respect and reverence for his holiness.

Sukkot Mon, Oct 6, 2025 – Mon, Oct 13, 2025
Sukkot is a week-long festival, also known as the “Feast of Tabernacles,” observed starting on the 15th of ‘Tishrei.’ During this time, Jewish people create temporary structures called ‘sukkot’ where they eat, socialize, and occasionally sleep. A central part of Sukkot includes the waving of the ‘Four Species,’ which are myrtle, willow, etrog, and lulav, which is done daily to symbolize their gratitude for unity and harvest. 

Sukkot came from the Book of Leviticus, Exodus, and Numbers in the Torah where G-d commanded the Israelites to inhabit these small structures for 7 days as a remembrance of their journey in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. It is also referred to ‘Chag Ha’Asif’ in the Torah, reflecting the connection to harvest time and the agricultural bounty at the end of the year. As time went on, the practices around Sukkot evolved into public synagogue ceremonies, including different customs like involving symbolic guests called ushpizin.

Synagogues around NYC participate by creating their own Sukkots in yards and outdoor spaces, typically decorated in lights, artworks amd harvest fruits. Often, they will also host communal meals, inviting any, including non-Jewish people, over to enjoy. 

*Many people of the Jewish faith do not fully spell out the written word G-d as a sign of respect and reverence for his holiness.

National Coming Out Day - October 11
Every year, October 11th is observed as National Coming Out Day (also known as NCOD) to support and dedicate a designated day for coming out, helping to foster acceptance and welcoming members of the LGBTQIA+ community into the open. It’s a day devoted to visibility, affirmation, and celebration of living openly without fear of discrimination or rejection. Having a chosen day for ‘coming out’ helps establish a moment of solidarity and welcoming across the LGBTQIA+ community.

Founded initially in 1988, psychologist Robert Eichberg and gay rights activist Jean O’Leary founded NCOD on October 11th, the first anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. O’Leary first became familiar with the gay rights/liberation movement around 1971-1972 while pursuing her PhD, eventually founding her own organization, titled Lesbian Feminist Liberation, which became one of the first openly lesbian activist groups. They came into prominence after campaigning to lobby the NYC Council to update their anti-discrimination policies to include sexual orientation.

Across the US, NCOD is observed by community events, educational campaigns, and the act of coming out itself, with popular hashtags like #ComingOutDay. Advocacy groups like GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign encourage and pioneer ways to help others feel safe in embracing their sexuality. Organizations in NYC, such as the NYC LGBTQIA+ Community Center, also host workshops and gatherings to celebrate NCOD.

International Day of the Girl - October 11
The International Day of the Girl is observed annually on October 11th, raising awareness about the complex issues and challenges that young girls face globally, particularly in less developed countries. The observance aims to promote the rights of girls and what it means to feel empowered as a girl. The primary focus of some issues is mainly related to education, violence (both domestic and non-domestic), healthcare, child marriage, and quality of life.

The concept for the observance has its origins in the “Because I Am a Girl” campaign by Plan International, which focused on the total visibility of the spectrum of issues affecting girls globally. In December 2011, the UN General Assembly declared that Oct. 11, 2012, would be the very first “International Day of the Girl Child.” First proposed by Canada, the UN, from then on, has identified and chosen a new theme for each year’s observance, including “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Wellbeing,” and “Digital Generation. Our Generation.”

Typically celebrated through workshops and events, organizations like ‘Camp UN For Girl NYC’ host all-inclusive events for young girls throughout the city. Others, such as the Girl Scouts, run exhibits, projects, badge-earning events, and more. Groups like UNICEF, UN Women, Girl Up, and others across the US also engage and celebrate the day with social media campaigns, discussions, and advocacy for policy change. 

Indigenous People’s Day - October 13
Indigenous Peoples’ Day was established to recognize, honor, and celebrate the history of the Native Indigenous populations in the United States. The observance is usually held on the second Monday in October, highlighting the resilience and sovereignty of Native populations while being mindful of the inherent struggles and hardships that come with living in post-colonial America. 

The observance’s origin has its roots in a 1977 UN-sponsored conference on discrimination against Native populations. One of the first cities to formally approve the observance was Berkeley, CA, in 1992. In the following years, other states joined in recognizing the day, including South Dakota (titled initially ‘Native Americans’ Day’ in 1990), New Mexico, Maine, and Alaska. Former President Joe Biden issued a formal proclamation in 2021 to recognize it at the federal level.

NYC celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day with celebrations, protests, and more. Randall’s Island hosts the Indigenous Peoples’ Day event, featuring dance, music, ceremonies, and educational programming. Across the US, institutions like the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., host events such as powwows, rallies, and teach-ins. Some universities occasionally host school-sponsored lectures, events, panels, and film screenings led by Native/Indigenous leaders and scholars.

Shemini Atzeret - Evening of Mon, Oct 13, 2025 – Wed, Oct 15, 2025
Shemini Atzeret, meaning the Eighth Day of the Solemn Assembly, is a Jewish holiday that directly follows Sukkot. Although sometimes associated with each other, the observance is regarded as its own distinct celebration, with its own festival, prayers, and customs/traditions. On this day, Jewish people emphasize a more intimate relationship with G-d, with additional prayers being recited such as ‘Tefillat Geshem.’ 

The origins of Shemini Atzeret date back to the scripture from the Torah, specifically ‘Leviticus 23:36’ and ‘Numbers 29:35-38,’ when G-d commanded the Jewish people to observe an eighth day of assembly following Sukkot. It is unknown whether Shemini Atzeret would have been initially considered a secondary part or extension of Sukkot, given its own unique traditions. Over time, certain aspects, such as the Geshem prayer, Yizkor memorial service, and Torah readings, were formalized as part of Shemini Atzeret, establishing it as a separate holiday. 

Shemini Atzeret is observed in synagogues throughout NYC and the rest of the US, where services include the Yizkor service and the Tefillat Geshem, symbolizing prayers for rain. Many Jewish communities merge the holiday alongside Simchat Torah, hosting large and extended celebrations in neighborhoods such as the Upper West Side. Other forms of celebration include additional prayer services, Torah processions, communal meals, and embracing gratitude and celebrating their Jewish communities.

*Many people of the Jewish faith do not fully spell out the written word G-d as a sign of respect and reverence for his holiness.

Simchat Torah - Evening of Tue, Oct 14, 2025 – Wed, Oct 15, 2025
Simchat Torah, which translates into ‘the Rejoicing of the Torah,’ is a Jewish holiday celebrating the end of the Torah reading cycle and the immediate beginning of the next. Following directly after Shemini, Simchat Torah is typically observed with celebratory singing, dancing (known as Hakafot), and processions that involve the Torah. Simchat Torah emphasizes the importance and centrality of the Torah in Jewish life.

Simchat Torah was developed during the medieval period, circa early 9th century CE, during the time Jewish communities formalized the yearly reading cycle. Previously, some communities had as short as several months, while others had as long as several years. The act of restarting and completing the Torah inspired liturgical poems known as (piyyutim) and the ritual of hakafot. By the late medieval period, the holiday had spread throughout Europe and solidified its position as a major Jewish holiday in the liturgical calendar.

In NYC, Simchat Torah is celebrated through block parties, most famously the annual block party at the Jewish Center and Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun on the Upper West Side, where streets are closed off for dancing and celebration. Other Chabad communities also host hakafot with live music and dancing, as well as parades. Other instances of celebration across the US include community-based meals, children’s games, and more festivals.

International Pronoun Day - October 15
International Pronoun Day takes place on every third Wednesday of October, with this year’s landing on October 15th. Its primary focus is promoting the respectful use of a person’s preferred pronouns, as well as encouraging others to come out and vocalize the pronouns they’d like to be referred to. Although there is no one governing/central body for the day, many local communities across the country determine and host their own activities they deem relevant and necessary. Organizers for International Pronoun Day typically center the needs, interests, and goals of trans and gender non-binary people who face a range of intersectional marginalization when designing community events/gatherings.

Pronoun Day was initially founded by Shige Sakurai and Genny Beemyn, two trans rights activists and LGBTQIA+ university center staff members, in 2018 after they published the website mypronouns.org. Shige and Genny went on to form an executive board to help provide structure and a developmental foundation for the launch of International Pronoun Day. By 2019, the day had received over a dozen official registrations and endorsements from more than two dozen countries globally and was also the number one trending hashtag for the day on Twitter (as # PronounsDay).

In NYC, some community centers and institutions, such as BCC (Bronx Community College), typically host workshops & safe-space training sessions to inspire discussion, mutual understanding, and respect between allies and trans & nonbinary people. Other national organizations, like GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network), help schools and community centers access toolkits and other relevant resources, as well as promote social media campaigns like # PronounsDay. Libraries, nonprofits, and LGBTQIA+ centers across the country will also host panels, trainings, and lectures/community discussions during International Pronoun Day.

Diwali - October 20
Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in Hinduism (but is also celebrated by Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist followers). A five-day celebration also known as the “Festival of the Lights,” Diwali symbolizes the triumphant victory of good over evil, or light over darkness.  People mark the start of it with the first day called Dhanteras, where people will clean their homes and partake in other traditions like exchanging gifts, feasts, and setting off fireworks, and end on the fifth day called Bhai Dooj, which is dedicated to the celebration and praying (of success) of the relationships with one's siblings.

Diwali’s roots can be seen in ancient agricultural societies and Sanskrit texts such as P, which referred to Diwali as “the festival of lights.” Because Diwali is linked to several stories in ancient texts, it is most likely a product of an amalgam of related celebrations from thousands of years ago, many of which surround the idea of good overcoming evil. Over the following centuries, the festival evolved into a multi-day event, incorporating various regional traditions and seasonal harvest celebrations into one holiday cherished by multiple South Asian communities.

In NYC, Diwali is celebrated with public events, such as the Diwali at Times Square Festival, featuring music, dance, food, and a lighting ceremony. Queens also hosts its own, called the Jackson Heights Diwali Festival, with local cultural performances and community booths. Other cities, such as Edison, NJ, and Houston, TX, stage their own public Diwali celebrations each year, with schools and libraries also hosting their own fairs and workshops across the country.

Birth of the Bab – Baha-I October 22
The Birth of the Bab is one of the nine Holy Days in the Bahai Faith, celebrated annually to commemorate the birthday of Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad, who was referred to as “the Bab” (meaning ‘Gate’). On this day, followers of the Bahá'í Faith will suspend work and use their time for prayer, reading, gatherings, and fellowship. The date in the Gregorian calendar is not on a designated day because it is identified through the Bahai lunar-solar calendar, around the first day following the eighth new moon after Naw-Ruz. However, this year, the day is expected to fall on October 22.

The Bab. Originally from Shira (now known as Iran) was born to parents of two Sayyids, a title granted to the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, on October 20th, 1819, in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran). The date of this day's observance is determined by a solar calendar known as the Badi calendar. On May 23, 1844, he claimed to be the ‘Bab’, a religious leader on par with those like Moses, Buddha, and Mohammed, and kick-started the Babi Faith, promising a new age of divine revelation. Unfortunately, only after a few years of spreading his faith and ideals, he was sentenced to death for apostasy in May of 1844 because the Persian government viewed the Bab as a challenge to their orthodoxy and status quo. 

Across the US, Baha'i is celebrated with communities hosting gatherings on the eve of the Birth of the Bab, followed by prayer, readings, music, and fellowship. Occasionally, the Bahá'í House of Worship will hold a public devotional program with open invitations to anyone interested. At the same time, other smaller assemblies also coordinate local community devotional nights.