Wear it purple day has grown since 2010 and has become an important day celebrated in many Australian schools. Created in response to the suicide of New Jeresy teenager Tyler Clementi, the day was initially concived as a student organised event to help raise awareness of bullying targeting LGBTQIA young people and create a supportive environment. Since 2010, the day has found a regular spot on the calander on the last Friday in August and has become widely recognised throughout the Australian community.
It sends a strong message
Graduating in 2007, something like Wear it Purple Day was unimaginable for me as a student. Instead, at an all boys Catholic school, homophia was pretty widespread. Almost anything perceived as bad was labelled ‘gay’, and we actually had a teacher lecture our my class in year 10 about the evil of homosexuality. Not exactly a great environment for anyone trying to work themselves out and recognising that they don’t quite fit the heterosexual mould. Sometimes, how lucky me and my friends were to make it through, although I know that we all struggled at different times.
To think it was only a few years later that Wear it Purple Day started seems difficult to believe. Granted, by the time my year level had made it to year 12, a lot of the cohort were pretty accepting and supportive of gay rights. Still, the idea of running an event and visually showing support as a school seemed a very long way off. Now that same school celebrates, wear it purple day and even prompt it on their social media account. Things have come a long way in less than 20 years.
While we have made so much progress, my experiences at school highlights the importance of such a day. As homophobia and bullying of LGBTQIA identities was culturally ingrained so much so that people would casually throw around slurs without really thinking about it. In some cases, the same people who would support any of their friends. The impact that it had on so many of us is hard to tell, I know I struggled with both my gender identity and sexuality a lot in high school and suffered in silence, scared that anyone might pick up on the truth. Even once I came to terms with a small part of who I am, the fact I was bisexual I kept it secret. Eventually, I came out to two friends only after they did. It probably seemed like I was jumping on the Queer bandwagon, but I was just relieved to be able to say it out loud, even if I did spend most of the next 15 years still keeping it to myself. However, a day to show support and empower people like me can really change that narrative.
It’s still matters
Some might think that change is well and has truly been established. As a teacher, I have seen the progress and marvelled at what I could only have imagined. Yet, I have also seen casual homophobia, been the target of Transphobia and had to protect kids from bullying. The reality is that there is still plenty of ingrained hate towards the LGBTQIA community and a lack of acceptance from different people. It means that days when the majority of students and staff can show their support is important, it shows that the hate is from a minority and those struggling with their identity can see they are accepted by so many.
Recent events with homophobic slurs used in the AFL, perhaps, are the best justification for days like this. It has highlighted once again that homophobia is still heavily ingrained in sporting culture here. However, the response of talkback listeners, commentators, and social media demonstrates that we still have a broader issue to tackle. There are large groups that still fail to understand the message casual slurs send to the community, especially the most vulnerable. Former player Mitch Brown’s decision to come out as bisexual and share his experiences should shine a light on the impact of such attitude, and I hope people listen and learn.
The truth, though, is as much progress as we have made there remains a need for days like wear it purple. Days where we can show some of the most vulnerable kids in our community that it is ok to be themselves.
