Wear it Purple Day

On August 25th, 2023, LGBTQIA+ youth and allies will come together in record numbers to commemorate ‘Wear It Purple Day’. This celebration is a powerful statement of support for young people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and encourages them to be themselves without fear of judgment or discrimination. The event has grown in popularity over the years and has become a symbol of hope for those who have struggled with their sexual or gender identity.

The message of ‘Wear It Purple Day’ is clear: everyone deserves to be treated with respect and kindness, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. By coming together to celebrate this day, we are sending a message of hope and encouragement to LGBTQIA+ youth everywhere. We are showing them that they are not alone and that they have a community of allies who are ready to support them.

By wearing purple, Australians demonstrate to rainbow young people that they are seen, supported and respected, acknowledging all have the right to be proud of who they are and who they are becoming.

Originally founded by students in response to global stories of teenagers taking their own lives due to bullying and harassment, Wear It Purple Day has become an international movement of celebration and support. This year’s theme, “Write Your Story”, was created by Wear It Purple’s Youth Action Council (YAC) to give voice to growing rhetoric in the LGBTQIA+ youth community around the importance of personal expression and individuality.

In a world where social media, the media and our education system often create pressure to conform to norms, broken structures and set standards, the ‘Write Your Story’ theme encourages young people to embrace their unique perspectives and to share their stories with others,”  said, Victoria Adams, Youth Action Council. “For young people who identify as LGBTQIA+, the theme represents the importance of taking ownership of their narratives and sharing their experiences in their own voices. This process of storytelling can be empowering and affirming. By speaking from their hearts, young people can also contribute to a broader cultural shift towards greater acceptance and visibility for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Lara Husselbee, President, Wear it Purple, commented, “Storytelling is a powerful mechanism to drive visibility and connection, build communities and create acceptance. At Wear it Purple believe strongly that by providing space and visibility for these stories, from our LGBTQIA+ youth, lives can change and we can move societies to take action. I am so proud of this year’s theme, our youth action council and to lead this wonderful organisation.”

To play an active role in supporting Wear It Purple Day in your school, community organisation, university, or workplace:

• Speak to your School: To see how they plan to celebrate Wear it Purple Day and the policies, and practices they have in place to create supportive and safe spaces for students and teachers.
• Do your research: Jump onto great sites like ours or some of our community partners to learn more about topics like pronouns, coming out, supportive affirming conversation and gender identity to name just a few.
• Host or attend panels and keynote Events: The power of storytelling and visibility enables rainbow youth to connect to the community and gain strength by hearing about common struggles and opportunities to triumph.
• Prioritise key issues through established pride employee network groups: Champion topics like pronouns, gender affirmation and identity, inclusive language and active allyship.
• Continue courageous conversations: Go beyond Wear It Purple Day to create safety in classrooms and workplaces across the country.

Visit Wear it Purple at www.wearitpurple.org for additional information on resources, merchandise, and donations.

Click on the picture to download this years official colouring page​ and colour in to your hearts content!