Hello Tar Heels, and happy Spring!
Today, March 31, we celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility. TDOV was founded by Rachel Crandall-Crocker in 2009 to honor and uplift the transgender community outside of Transgender Day of Remembrance in November. TDOR is often seen as a day of mourning, so Rachel created TDOV as a companion event in the warm months of Spring to bring the community together. Since then, TDOV has become a day of all-out joy.
To learn more about TDOV, check out the resources below!
Earlier in the month, on March 10, National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was celebrated. For 2026, the theme is “Reset Your Routine: Embracing HIV testing, prevention, and care as part of your health journey.” Approximately 1 in 4 people living with HIV in the United States is female, so take this opportunity to learn more about the specific barriers to care that women face in receiving treatment for HIV:
Next up in March was the 24th annual National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week! This year, NLHAW was celebrated between March 16 and 20, with the theme “Organize to OUTlast.” NLHAW was founded in 2003 by The National Coalition for LGBTQ Health to highlight the health needs of the entire LGBTQ community. Learn more with the resources below:
That takes us to March 20, which is designated as National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. NNHAAD was founded in 2007 to encourage American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians to become educated about, tested, and treated for HIV/AIDS. NNHAAD was chosen to be honored on the first day of Spring to acknowledge the importance that Spring holds in many Native cultures across the United States. Learn more about NNHAAD below!
March is also Women’s History Month! Women’s History Month began as Women’s History Week in 1978 in Santa Rosa, California, corresponding with Women’s History Day on March 8. As other communities instituted their own Women’s History Weeks over the next few years, President Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation in 1980 formally recognizing Women’s History Week. In 1987, Congress designated March as Women’s History Month.
To explore more about Women’s History Month, check out the resources below!
In addition, March has been designated as Bisexual Health Awareness Month! Bi+ Health Awareness Month was founded and is spearheaded by the Bisexual Resource Center to offer resources for the unique mental and physical health challenges bi+ people (bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer, etc.) face. Learn more with the resources below!
As always, the Center will be open for any resources and support that you need to help you finish this year strong.
Happy Women’s History Month, Bisexual Health Awareness Month, and all the other reasons to celebrate this March! Enjoy the warm weather Tar Heels!