Wear it Purple Day is an annual LGBTIQA+ awareness day especially for young people based in Australia. Schools, workplaces and other youth based and community groups wear purple to celebrate diversity and young people from the LGBTIQA+ community.
Wear it Purple Day is Friday August 25.
This year’s theme is: Write Your Story
Why Purple?
Purple was chosen as it is not a primary colour. This means it is a colour that requires a mix of other colours to mix to become what it is: purple.
This idea embodies what Wear It Purple stands for – being made from a diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community and coming together to make something amazing!
How it all began
Wear it Purple was founded in 2010 in response to young people taking their own lives as a result of bullying and harassment from the lack of acceptance of their sexuality or gender identity.
As the world saw the faces of precious young lives lost, some young people found a new sense of conviction and purpose to ensure that young people everywhere would know that there were people who did support and love them. Wear it Purple was established to show young people across the globe that there was hope, that there were people who did support and accept them, and that they have the right to be proud of who they are.
Since 2010, Wear it Purple has developed into an international movement.
New generations of LGBTIQA+ young people continue to be dedicated to promoting the annual expression of support and acceptance to rainbow young people.
What started out small has now grown; however, the message remains the same. Everybody has the right to be proud of who they are.
What can educators do and why your support is important
The research is damning.
75% of LGBTIQ youth experiencing some form of discrimination.
61% experience verbal abuse.
19% experience physical bullying.
24.4% of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual people experience depression.
36.2% of Trans Australians experience depression.
In comparison, only 6.8% of the general population experience depression.
But research also shows that LGBTQIA+ allyship modelled by teachers ends up being reflected by students over time.
Something as simple as teachers using gender neutral language has been found to cut bullying and discrimination experienced by LGBTQIA+ students by up to 50%! Thoughtful leadership like this creates genuine, positive change.
Because some LGBTQIA+ youth are more likely than their peers to experience bullying or other aggression in school, it is important that educators create a safe, healthy learning environment for all students.
Share your Stories
We know that there are school communities and IEU members who are active in their workplace to recognise, celebrate and support our LGBTIQA+ young people through days such as Wear it Purple.
We would love to hear what your site does to support LGBTIQA+ students.
We are committed to making your union a safe and supportive space for LGBTIQA+ members. To do this we need to hear from you.
We are keen to hear our member’s thoughts and ideas on what you would like to see or need in relation to your workplace, whether that be in terms of training and resources, networking, industrial information or advocacy.
Please be assured that all information you provide to us will be kept confidential and any data produced for our use will be de-identified.
