Wear it Purple Day this Friday

Wear it Purple Day is about showing LGBTQIA+ young people that they have the right to be proud of who they are. It is about creating safe spaces in schools, universities, workplaces and public spaces to show LGBTQIA+ young people that they are seen and supported.

Every year thousands of schools, community organisations, universities and workplaces organise events across Australia, and through these actions, directly and indirectly, we’ll reach hundreds of thousands of young people, meaning that young LGBTQIA+ people will benefit from seeing the respect, recognition, love and inclusion that surrounds them.

This year’s theme is “Start the conversation… keep it going”

This theme focuses on the important and necessary conversations we have in our daily life; particularly those that centre around sexual orientation and gender identity. It aims to remind people that the issues we reflect on during Wear it Purple Day should not only be considered on that particular day… but every day.

If we are to empower rainbow young people to be proud of who they are, and who they might become, we need to encourage and support them each day in the classroom or workplace. The importance of pronouns and gender affirmation, as well as the use of inclusive language, is a great place to start.

Who are Wear it Purple? Community Organisation/Charity of the Year at the 2019 Australian LGBTI Awards 100% volunteer-run, from our youth leaders to the board.

In 2010, several rainbow young people took their own lives following bullying and harassment resulting from the lack of acceptance of their sexuality or gender identity. Wear it Purple was founded in 2010 in response to these global stories of real teenagers, real heartache and their very real responses.

What’s happening around us today and why is this important?

75% of LGBTIQ+ youth in Australia will be bullied because of their identity. 80% will experience it at school. Because of this, LGBTIQ+ youth are up to 12x more likely to experience depression and up to 5x more likely to experience anxiety.

What can I do to get involved? Wear something purple this Friday, 27 of August to show your support. Celebrate, listen to and learn from the LGBTQIA+ people in your life.

Resources, communications support and donation hub can be found on the Wear it Purple website.

Wear it Purple website

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