February 2022

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month
Suicide Prevention Month

This month focuses on LGBTQIA+ history month and also on suicide prevention.

LGBTQIA+ History Month is an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. Every year, London Metropolitan University celebrates LGBTQIA+ month by holding various events to celebrate the community and the movement. 

Suicide rates increase during the winter period where there are lengthy periods of isolation. We raise awareness in the rates of suicide in Trans people of colour where rates are the highest. 

If you or anyone need support, get in touch via our 24-hour mental health service.

 

Get involved...

Join us for our events for LGBTQIA+ month.

You can also join our LGBTQIA+ student society or our LGBTQIA+ staff network.

 

Key dates in February 2022

Imbolc is an ancient Celtic festival associated with the goddess Brigid, celebrating the beginning of spring and held on or around 1 February.

World Hijab Day is an annual event founded by Nazma Khan in 2013, taking place on 1 February each year in 140 countries worldwide. Its stated purpose is to encourage women of all religions and backgrounds to wear and experience the hijab.

World Cancer Day aims to prevent millions of deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer, and pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease.

In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated 6 February each year as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, with the aim to amplify and direct efforts to eliminate this practice.

Time to Talk Day – this annual day focuses on mental health and the importance of reaching out to others for checking wellbeing. 

Race Equality Week is an annual UK-wide movement uniting thousands of organisations and individuals to address the barriers to race equality in the workplace.

This day is an opportunity to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. Gender equality is a global priority for UNESCO – the support of young girls, their education and their full ability to make their ideas heard are levers for development and peace. 

Find out more at Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on 14 February. It originated as a Christian feast day honouring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, through later folk traditions, has become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.

Parinirvana Day is an annual festival, observed in some Mahayana countries, that remembers the death of the Buddha when he reached the age of 80. When the Buddha died, Buddhists believe that he entered a state called Parinirvana (which means Nirvana without end).

Vasant Panchami (vasant meaning “spring” and panchami meaning “fifth”) is a festival that falls on the fifth day of the Hindu lunar month of Magha (January-February in the Western calendar) marking the beginning of winter's end and the coming of spring.

World Day of Social Justice (Social Justice Equality Day) is an international day recognising the need to promote social justice, which includes efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion, gender inequality, unemployment, human rights and social protections.

Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week (AAW) is a week centered around spreading information and awareness about aromanticism and making sure aromantic spectrum voices and issues are heard and understood. This is an important day to bring visibility to a sometimes forgotten about section of the LGBTQIA+ community, their struggles and experiences.

International STAND UP to Bullying Day is a special semi-annual event in which participants sign and wear a pink "pledge shirt" to take a visible, public stance against bullying.

Lailat al Miraj celebrates the Prophet Muhammad's nighttime journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, where he then ascended to heaven. While sleeping in the Ka'bah, the sacred shrine of Mecca, Muhammad was visited by the archangels Jibril and Mikal. This is a very important and sacred day in the history of Islam.

More about our inclusion calendar

This is not an exhaustive list; please complete our inclusion calendar form if you'd like us to add your event or if there is anything missing from our dates.

This calendar is managed by the Centre for Equity and Inclusion and the Inclusive Calendar Stakeholders (ICS). The ICS group meets every month to discuss the month of events ahead, enhancement of the process and the calendar. 

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at equity@londonmet.ac.uk