Throughout April 2021, buildings & landmarks around the world will light up TEAL to shine a light on PMDD awareness.
PMDD Awareness Month is now in its 9th year. These light-ups are a powerful symbol of hope and community, especially during difficult and uncertain times. Cities, organizations, and companies heard our stories and want to show their support of all the brave women and AFAB individuals living with PMDD in their communities, and beyond. These light-ups are a promise that from this point forward we will no longer suffer alone in the darkness.
Why teal? Teal is the official color of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, symbolizing emotional balance and stability, something we all fight for.
Here is the current list of locations around the world that are lighting up to send out a message that those with PMDD are SEEN and HEARD:
April 1 l Helmsley Building in New York City, NY, USA
April 1 l CN Tower in Toronto, ON, Canada
April 1 l The Bell Tower, Perth, Australia
April 1 l Matagarup Bridge, Perth, Australia
April 1 l Mount Street Bridge, Perth, Australia
April 1 l Sky Ribbon Bridge, Perth, Australia
April 1 l Joondalup Drive Bridge, Perth, Australia
April 1 l GFF Tunnel, Perth, Australia
April 2 l I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge in Minneapolis, MN, USA
April 3 | Lethbridge City Hall in Lethbridge, AB, Canada
April 4 l Niagara Falls, Canada (10pm for 15 minutes)
April 4 - 24th l The Block, Chattanooga, TN, USA
April 5 | Cambridge Pedestrian Bridge in Cambridge, ON, Canada
April 5 | Telus Spark in Calgary, AB, Canada
April 5 - 9th I City Hall, Regina, SK, Canada
April 6 | 3D Toronto Sign in Toronto, ON, Canada
April 6 | Muiderslot in Muiden, Netherlands
April 7 | Halifax City Hall in Halifax, NS, Canada
April 8 | Ashton Memorial, Lancaster, UK
April 9 l Franklin Delano Roosevelt Mid-Hudson Bridge, Highland, NY, USA
April 9 | Government House in Annapolis, MD, USA | 4:30-10 pm EDT
April 10 | High-Level Bridge in Edmonton, AB, Canada
April 11 | McNichol's Civic Center Building in Denver, CO, USA
April 12 | Cardiff City Hall in Cardiff, Wales, UK
April 12 | Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, NSW, Australia
April 13 l Zakim Bridge, MA, Boston
April 13 l Longfellow Bridge, MA, Boston
April 13 l Burns Bridges, Worcester, MA, USA
April 13 l Fore River, Quincy/Weymouth, MA, USA
April 15 l McDonnell Planetarium at the Saint Louis Science Center, MO, USA
April 16 | One and Two Liberty Place in Philadelphia, PA, USA
April 16 l Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge in Nashville, TN, USA
April 17 | Theatre Clwyd in Mold, Wales, UK
April 17-18 | Fontane Teatro Valli in Reggio Emilia, Italy
April 17-18 | Town Hall at Garibaldi Square in Parma, Italy
April 17-18 | Fontanelle Palazzo Ducale at the Military Academy of Modena in Piazza Roma, Modena, Italy
April 17 | Portland Maine City Hall in Portland, ME, USA
April 18 | AES Indiana at Monument Circle in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
April 19 | Story Bridge in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
April 19 | Victoria Bridge in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
April 19 | Kalamazoo City Hall in Kalamazoo, MI, USA
April 20 | Aloha Tower in Honolulu, Hawaii
April 20 l Cira Centre, Cira Garage, and FMC Tower at Cira Centre South, Philadelphia, USA
April 22 | Rockheim Museum in Trondheim, Norway
April 24 | Rochester Cathedral in Rochester, England, UK
April 24 | BC Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada
April 25 | Gilbert Water Tower in Gilbert, AZ, USA
April 26 | Skydance Bridge in Oklahoma City, OK, USA
April 27 | Piazza Maggiore Square in Bologna, Italy
April 28 | Calgary Tower in Calgary, AB, Canada
April 29 | De Ferrari Square in Genoa, Italy
April 29 | Cristoforo Colombo Monument in Cogoleto, Italy
April 30 | Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
April 30 l Belfast City Hall, Northern Ireland, UK
April 30 | Sails of Light at Canada Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada
Other special mentions:
Throughout the month: Tower Screen, University of Northampton, UK - will be showcasing a short video about PMDD throughout the month.
April 23 l Glasgow Women’s Library, Scotland, UK will be ‘lighting up’ their social media and sharing information about PMDD throughout the day.
The National Association for PMS & PMDD Italy (ITA-PMS) is shining a light on PMDD in Italy with several events throughout April. They’ll be releasing a Podcast on PMDD to raise awareness with interviews and personal PMDD stories in collaboration with the "Project EVA in ROSSO." They will also be sharing an interview “PMS & PMDD: Let's talk about it” with Prof. R Nappi, Full Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Pavia University on PMS and PMDD in collaboration with ONDA Group on Youtube. The podcast and interview, available in Italian, have the aim of raising awareness and scientific insight on PMS and PMDD.
+ How do you choose which buildings are going to 'light-up'?
Each year (this is the third year!) we do a shout out across our social media and mailing lists for light up requests. These are our priority locations - as we want people to be able attend local light-ups where possible! We also contact as many other locations as possible to request they light up. If you are keen to request a light up for 2020, send an email to laura@iapmd.org with as many details as possible!
Can I go to a light-up?
Yes - if it is safe to do so! Please abide by any current government restrictions regarding travel/social distancing. If you do live near a light-up, we hope you have the chance to see it lit. It’s a powerful and even emotional experience.
If you plan to visit - please call the location ahead of time to check timings. Most locations will light from dusk into the night - but this cannot be guaranteed and is out of the control of us here at IAPMD, so please do check before embarking on any travel.
Please take pictures, videos, selfies, and share on social media with #PMDDAwarenessMonth2021 and tag us in! You can even stream LIVE on Instagram or Facebook. If you’d prefer not to share on your own social media, you can email your pictures to us here so we can share them with the community.
What if I can’t leave my house?
With the current COVID-19 situation, we understand there are still some travel restrictions in many places around the world. Many landmarks and buildings around the globe have webcams that you can check out. it’s not quite the same we know - but it’s still a good way to join in and appreciate the view! Watch it online and tag us in on social using #PMDDAwarenessMonth2021 so we can see the light spreading over the world!
Please follow your national and local guidelines on outdoor exercise and moving around your environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. In many places, outdoor exercise is currently safe and encouraged, though it’s important to keep at least 2 metres of distance between you and your non-household exercise companions. Anyone exhibiting ANY Covid-19 symptoms should self isolate along with their family/household for 14 days. Please comply with the current advice from your Government regarding movement restrictions. See WHO (World Health Organisation) for up to date information.