National Heritage Months

February	Black History Month In 1926, Dr. Carter Woodson instituted a week-long celebration of African American contributions to American history. Today, we celebrate the entire month of February as Black History Month.
March	National Women’s History Month was established by presidential proclamation to draw attention to and rectify the limited focus on women in the study of U.S. history.
May	Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month Established by congressional proclamation in 1979 as Asian Heritage Week, President George Bush signed legislation into law in 1992 that made May Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
September	National Hispanic Heritage Month was started in 1968 as National Hispanic Heritage Week and incorporated September 15 and 16, the independence days for Central American nations and Mexico, respectively. In 1988, it expanded to National Hispanic Heritage Month.
October	National Lesbian Gay Bisexual History Month Several organizations joined together in 1994 and declared October as National Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Month. October was selected because the first and second Marches on Washington for lesbian and gay rights were held this month in 1979 and 1987. National Disability Employment Awareness Month In 1988, presidential proclamation designated October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month in order to promote and encourage the full integration of people with disabilities into the workforce.
November	National Native American Heritage Month The term "Native American" incorporates hundreds of different tribes and approximately 250 languages. Conceived in 1976 as Native American Week, it became National Native American Heritage Month in 1990 by presidential and congressional proclamation.