By Stephanie Ferns, Bella Major and Jessica Columbus
Wear it Purple Day is a not-for-profit charity that aims to inspire awareness and welcomes diversity for the LGBTQAI+ community.
On Friday, August 30, we are encouraging students, teachers, and peers, to wear some form of purple in solidarity with those who struggle with their gender and sexual identity.
You can also listen in on TAFE Radio to hear more about the activities at Ultimo campus on the day. There will be live performances by our very own music students, as well as games with prizes to be won.
The Wear It Purple organisation takes financial donations every year to help provide schools with valuable resources, make sure their merchandise can be affordable to all, and to fund official Wear it Purple Day events in every capital city, territory and regional area.
Even though it originated in Australia, Wear it Purple Day is celebrated all across the world.
This year the theme is Your Passion Your Pride, a campaign message along with artwork by Nicky Tsekouras made in celebration of LGBTQAI+ people achieving their dreams.
The group was founded in 2010 by several queer high school students after hearing about the global struggles and heart-breaking suicide stories of teens their age who endured the cruelties of bullying, harassment and lack of acceptance.
But why purple in particular? Especially when people often associate the LGBTQAI+ community with a rainbow.
Well, on the official website one of the founders of the organisation, Katherine Hudson, said she: “…saw purple as a way of bringing people together from all different backgrounds and creating one thing … a symbol of unity.”
So, let’s stand together, on this day of purple unity!
Featured image: Get your purple on to celebrate rainbow youth. Photo: Wear It Purple Day
