July Month Long Observances
- Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month
- French-American Heritage Month
- July 18 - August 17: South Asian Heritage Month
Disability Pride Month
Did you know that July is Disability Pride Month? This is a time to celebrate the diverse community of people with disabilities, reflect on the progress that has been made to close the equity gap so that individuals can feel empowered to live with dignity, and focus on the work that lies ahead in building inclusive communities. For instance, major inequalities persist in transportation, digital access, physical barriers and many other areas that prevent more than one billion people with disabilities, worldwide, from fully participating in society.
Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July, commemorating the signing of the Americans with Disabilities enacted on July 26, 1990. This law was a landmark that extended civil rights protections to people with disabilities.
The Disability Pride Month flag is a charcoal gray flag with five parallel colored stripes in a diagonal band that runs from the top left to the bottom right corner:
- Red: Represents physical disabilities such as stroke, arthritis, and spinal cord injuries
- Gold: Represents neurodiversity such as autism spectrum disorder, brain injuries, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity
- White: Non-apparent or invisible disabilities and undiagnosed disabilitiesBlue: Represents emotional and psychiatric disabilities, including mental illness, anxiety, and depression
- Green: Represents sensory disabilities such as deafness, blindness or low vision, lack of smell, lack of taste, audio processing disorder, and all other sensory disabilities
- Background: Represents mourning and rage for victims of ableist violence and abuse
- Diagonal Stripes: Symbolizes cutting across barriers that disabled people face, and is meant to allude to the idea of light cutting through the darkness
The flag's design also commemorates and mourns disabled people who have died due to ableism, violence, negligence, suicide, rebellion, illness, or forced sterilization.
July 2 – Thurgood Marshall’s Birthday
Thurgood Marshall was the Supreme Court’s first Black Justice. He is also widely known for arguing the case of Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) on behalf of the Browns and the NAACP. Marshall helped change the course of the United States when the Supreme Court ruled that separating children in public schools on the basis of race was unconstitutional. This case signaled the end of legalized racial segregation within U.S. schools, overruling the "separate but equal" criteria established in the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson case.
July 4 – U.S. Independence Day
July 4, marks the day in 1776 when the United States declared its independence from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress, stating that the 13 American colonies were now free and self-governing. Today, the holiday is celebrated with fireworks, parades, and gatherings to honor the country’s founding.
July 10 – Asalha Puja
Asalha Puja, or Dharma Day, celebrates the Buddha’s first sermon after his enlightenment, where he taught the Four Noble Truths for the first time. This marks the beginning of the Buddha’s teaching (the Dharma) and the founding of the Sangha (the community of monks). Buddhists observe the day by meditating, making offerings, and reflecting on core teachings such as compassion, mindfulness, and the path to liberation.
July 14 – International Non-Binary People’s Day
International Non-Binary People’s Day celebrates the diversity and resilience of people whose gender identities fall outside the traditional categories of exclusively male or female. The term "non-binary" refers to individuals who do not identify solely as a man or a woman; some may identify as both, neither, or move fluidly between genders. “Enby” is a phonetic pronunciation of “NB,” which is short for “nonbinary.”
The day aims to raise awareness about the unique challenges non-binary people face, including discrimination, lack of legal recognition, violence, and gender dysphoria – a sense of distress when one’s gender identity does not align with their assigned sex at birth. While significant work remains in the fight for full equality and recognition, this day also highlights the achievements, visibility, and contributions of non-binary individuals around the world. It offers a chance to uplift voices within the community and promote authentic, diverse representation.
July 14 – Bastille Day
Bastille Day commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris in 1789, a key event at the start of the French Revolution. The Bastille, seen as a symbol of the monarchy's tyranny, was taken by revolutionaries, marking a turning point in the push for political change. The day now symbolizes the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
July 18 - August 17: South Asian Heritage Month
South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) is a month-long observance that takes place from July 18 to August 17 to celebrate and reflect on the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of people from the South Asian diaspora. The diaspora includes communities with heritage from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Established in 2020, SAHM aims to explore the deep connections between South Asia and the United Kingdom (UK), acknowledging shared histories shaped by colonialism, migration, and identity. The month is also an opportunity to highlight the diversity within South Asian cultures, promote dialogue, and celebrate the ongoing contributions of South Asian people to British society.
The timing of SAHM is significant:
- July 18 marks the date the Indian Independence Act was passed in 1947, leading to the creation of India and Pakistan as independent nations.
- August 17 commemorates the announcement of the Radcliffe Line, which established the border between India and Pakistan, triggering one of the largest mass migrations in history, accompanied by widespread violence and the deaths of hundreds of thousands.
