APS News

APS Celebrates LGBTSTEM Day

July 3, 2019

On July 5, science organizations around the world are joining together in support and celebration of LGBTQ+ people in science, technology and math (STEM) fields. APS is one of 50 supporting organizations that have come together with the PrideInSTEM organization to celebrate the second annual LGBTSTEM Day.

LGBTSTEM Day was created to recognize members of the STEM community who continue to face adversity and discrimination. Several reports, including the APS LGBT Climate in Physics survey from 2015, have highlighted the continued risks of harassment and discrimination for LGBT+ scientists, which risks driving talented minds from STEM. The goal of LGBTSTEM Day is to raise awareness of these issues and support LGBT+ scientists in effort to increase inclusion and diversity in STEM.

Rainbow graphic

Eight organizing groups have joined PrideInSTEM to make this day possible: House of STEM, InterEngineering, OUT in STEM, LGBTQSTEM, 500 Queer Scientists, Queer in STEM, Queer in Science, and LGBT+ Physics. Volunteers from these groups and the supporting organizations have created events to celebrate LGBTSTEM day.

July 5 was selected as the date for LGBTSTEM Day as the date can be written to symbolize colors found in the rainbow flag, signifying pride: In the U.S., the date written “705” corresponds to a red wavelength in nanometers, representing life, and elsewhere the date written “507” is a green wavelength, representing nature.

To learn more about LGBTSTEM Day, visit the PrideInSTEM website.

News Update Archive

View Archive


APS News

Read Current Issue


Recent News Update
Harvard Chemist and APS Fellow Shares 2022 Kavli Prize in Nanoscience
Dr. George Whitesides, a Harvard chemist and APS Fellow, is one of four recipients of the 2022 Kavli Prize in Nanoscience.
Productive Scientific Discourse Demands Respect
APS strives to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all those engaged in physics.
APS Continues Progress to Make US More Welcoming for Science
The China Initiative, which sowed fear among some APS members and curtailed legitimate collaborations, has ended in its current form.
March Meeting Heads to Chicago
The 2022 APS March Meeting will be held live in Chicago with many sessions available online as well.
Celebrating Leaders in Physics Teacher Preparation
Nine colleges and universities received top honors for preparing highly qualified high school physics teachers.
2022 APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research Awarded to Elliott Lieb
Princeton University physicist to receive top APS honor