by The Justice William J. Murray Jr. Unity Bar Section

June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month, established to recognize the impact that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on the world. LGBTQ+ groups acknowledge the month with Pride parades, memorials for those lost to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS, and other group gatherings. The last Sunday in June is LGBTQ+ Pride Day, commemorating the Stonewall Riots that occurred on June 28, 1969. June is also Immigrant Heritage Month, which celebrates immigrants across the United States and their contributions to their local communities and economy and gives all Americans an opportunity to explore their heritages and celebrate the shared diversity that forms the unique story of the United States; and Caribbean American Heritage Month, which was established in June 2006 to honor and celebrate the rich and diverse culture of the Caribbean American population. 

June 2 is Native American Citizenship Day, commemorating the day in 1924 when the U.S. Congress passed legislation recognizing the citizenship of Native Americans. June 7 is Feast of the Most Sacred Heart, a solemnity in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. June 10 is Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, observed by members of the Sikh faith; Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth Sikh guru and the first Sikh martyr. June 11 to 13 (sundown to sundown) is Shavuot, a Jewish holiday that has double significance; it marks the wheat harvest in Israel and commemorates the anniversary of the day when the Jews received the Torah at Mount Sinai. June 14 is Flag Day in the United States, observed to celebrate the history and symbolism of the U.S. flag. 

June 15 to 16 (sundown to sundown) is Waqf al Arafa, the second day of pilgrimage within the Islamic faith.  June 16 is also New Church Day; according to Christian belief, on this day the Lord called together the twelve disciples who had followed him on Earth, instructed them in the Heavenly Doctrine of the New Jerusalem, and sent them out to teach that “the Lord God Jesus Christ reigns, whose kingdom shall be for ages and ages.” June 16 to 17 (sundown to sundown) is Eid-al-Adha, an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (also known as Abraham) to follow Allah’s (God’s) command to sacrifice his son, Ishmael. Muslims around the world observe this event. 

June 19 is Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day; established as a federal holiday in June 2021, this celebration honors the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas and Louisiana finally heard they were free, two months after the end of the Civil War. June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day or First Nations Day, a day that gives recognition to the indigenous populations affected by colonization in Canada. June 21 is also Litha, the summer solstice celebrated by Wiccans and Pagans; it is the longest day of the year, representing the sun’s “annual retreat.” June 29 is Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul, a liturgical feast in honor of the martyrdom in Rome for the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul in Eastern Orthodox Christianity.