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Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated between September 15 and October 15 each year. This start date was selected based on the Independence Day celebrations in six countries. Independence Day is celebrated on September 15 in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This holiday commemorates the day in 1821 when Guatemala formally declared independence from Spain on behalf of all five countries. For 300 years after Christopher Columbus' fourth voyage in 1502, Spain ruled Central America from its provincial capital in Mexico. When Mexico became a sovereign nation, most of Central America was included. These states proclaimed their independence from Mexico in 1823, becoming the United Provinces of Central America. By 1840, the federation had dissolved into the individual countries we have today. With fireworks, parades and speeches, they celebrate their mutual declarations of independence. Two customary festivities are: in Guatemala-La Conquista (The Conquest), a traditional dance reenacting the conquest of the Mayan Indians by the Spanish soldier Pedro de Alvarado; and in Nicaragua-bullfighting, where the matador doesn't kill the bull but tries to ride it instead.
Mexico celebrates Independence Day on Sept. 15-16, commemorating the beginning of the Mexican revolt in 1810 against 350 years of rule by Spain. The Fiesta Patrias, the festival that celebrates Mexican independence, goes on for nearly a week. It comes to a dramatic climax on September 16 in Mexico City, where crowds of merrymakers watch the president appear on the balcony of the National Palace to proclaim the "Grito de Dolores" (Cry of Dolores), the call to freedom that priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla made in the town of Dolores, urging Mexicans to fight for their independence. The next day, fireworks, parades and the drawing of the national lottery take place.
The term Hispanic, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, refers to Spanish-speaking people in the United States of any race. 67% of Hispanic-origin people are of Mexican background, 14% are of Central and South American backgrounds, 9% Puerto Rican, 4% Cuban and 7% other Hispanic origins.
In the 1990s, teachers and community leaders believed a month should be dedicated to the celebration and teaching of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) history. They selected October because public schools are in session and existing traditions, such as Coming Out Day (October 11), occur then. GLBT History Month was endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), and other national organizations. Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber declared October 1995 to be Lesbian and Gay History Month; and in July 1995, the National Education Association voted to support the concept. In 1996, the governors of Massachusetts and Connecticut and the mayors of Boston and Chicago also proclaimed October GLBT History Month. In 2006, Equality Forum’s Board of Directors and National Board of Governors voted unanimously to coordinate GLBT History Month, modeling it on Black History Month and Women’s History Month. The goals of GLBT History Month are to teach GLBT history, to provide inspiring role models, and to highlight the GLBT community’s important worldwide contributions. Each day in October, the Equality Forum is featuring a prominent person in GLBT history on their web site. There is a brief video and a 1-page biography of each person.
Every October 11th, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people and allies celebrate National Coming Out Day. For many people this day is a reminder of the importance of their decision to live their life proudly; for others an opportunity to take steps toward living more openly. Many people may feel that one’s sexual orientation or gender identity is an issue that is unrelated to the workplace. And in fact, those characteristics don’t have a direct correlation to people’s ability to perform their jobs. However, these factors may form a barrier to full inclusion in the workplace, which in turn affects productivity and retention. Most people don’t think twice about displaying a picture of their husband or wife or family on their desk. Many people speak freely about their loved ones when chatting about what they did over the weekend, their vacation plans, and other events taking place in their lives. Most people have no concerns about bringing their opposite-sex spouse or date to company holiday parties. Try to imagine what it would be like to have to weigh the consequences and potential fallout from taking each of these actions. Imagine trying to edit or filter everything you say with regard to the loved ones and activities in your life. Consider what a waste of energy and stress it is to be constantly “on guard.” If a colleague chooses to “come out” to you on this or any other day, it helps to realize that this person is doing so with the desire to be more open and build stronger relationships with people, remove a source of stress and worry, and participate more fully in the life of the workplace. Your opinion counts! Take a brief, anonymous survey on this topic | Discuss this article October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is designated to recognize the potential of America’s 30 million working-age people with disabilities. In 1945, in an effort to assist disabled veterans, Congress designated the first week of October as Nation Employ the Physically Handicapped Week. In the 1970s, a historic shift in disability public policy occurred. For the first time, the exclusion and segregation of people with disabilities was viewed as discrimination. This shift in attitude and the efforts of disability activists led to significant changes in laws, such as the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 and the designation of a full month to recognize the potential of America’s 30 million working-age people with disabilities. When referring to a person with a disability, it is more positive to use terms such as “person with a disability” or “person with _____” (name the disability), rather than using terms such as handicapped, invalid, disabled, _____ sufferer, etc. These latter terms tend to label the entire person based on his/her disability. Here are a few tips for effective communication with a deaf person: · Look directly at the person while communicating. When there is an interpreter present, speak directly to the deaf person, not to the interpreter. For example, don't say, "Can you ask her if she is available next week?" Do say, "Are you available next week?" · When a deaf person is lip-reading, don't turn away, cover your mouth, or talk while looking at a paper you are referring to. Also, allow time for a deaf person to look at any written materials you have given before you begin to speak. · When communication breaks down, try to rephrase instead of repeat. · With most deaf people, speaking very loudly doesn't help. Neither does over-enunciating. · Ask the deaf person for guidance if it seems appropriate. "Is there anything I could do which would make it easier for you to lip-read me? ...to follow the meeting? ...to benefit from the video presentation?", etc. · If you give critical information, allow time for person to write it down, and remember not to talk while this is happening. · To get a deaf person's attention, use a hand motion or a wave in their field of peripheral vision. Don't touch them physically unless you know this is acceptable. · When you telephone a deaf person who uses a TTY, the operator will hear your words, type them, read the deaf person's words in response to you, and back again. When you are done with your sentence(s), you say "go ahead" to the operator. Don't talk until they are done reading back to you the deaf person's sentence(s) and say "go ahead" to you.
This year, Ramadan is celebrated from September 24 thru October 23. This time of spiritual and physical purification commemorates the revelation of the Qur'an to Muhammad on Lailat ul-Qadr. Fasting during this month is one of the five fundamental religious duties of Islam. The fast ends when the new moon is again sighted. From dawn to sunset during Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking, sexual activity, smoking, using profane language, and speaking ill of others. Here are several links which contain useful information about Ramadan, particularly from the viewpoint of understanding and accommodating your Muslim colleagues: · Understanding beliefs and traditions · Sharing Ramadan, (pdf)
"Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty
and test of our civilization." The Diversity Corner is designed to increase awareness and build competency around workplace diversity issues. The content of this newsletter is selected and edited by Dave Hughes. Feedback is always welcome. Copyright © 2006 by Dave Hughes. Permission is granted to publish articles within this newsletter on a not-for-profit basis, with the following byline: “By Dave Hughes (www.DiversityCorner.com)” Contact Dave Hughes | Subscribe to the Diversity Corner | Unsubscribe to the Diversity Corner Your email address will remain strictly confidential and will not be used for any other purpose.
____________________________________________________________________________ ProGroup (www.progroupinc.com and their 2003 "Honoring Differences" calendar) Equality Forum (www.equalityforum.com, www.glbthistorymonth.com) |
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Copyright © 2006 Dave Hughes
