Wear It Purple Day: Supporting Queer Young People
Wear It Purple Day takes place worldwide on the last Friday of August. Originating in Australia in 2010, this observance expresses solidarity with young people in the LGBTQ+ community.
The chosen color, purple, symbolizes solitude. Thus, the event promotes understanding and creating safe environments for them. Through this day, champion inclusivity and diversity, allowing all young people to freely express their identities and love. Read on to learn more.
Key Info: Wear It Purple Day
- When is Wear It Purple Day?
Occurs on the last Friday of August - This Year (2026):
Friday, August 28, 2026 - Official Website: Wear It Purple
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Future Dates
- Friday, August 27, 2027
- Friday, August 25, 2028
- Friday, August 31, 2029
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Additional Details
- Observed By: Students, schools, workplaces, and communities showing solidarity with LGBTQ+ youth
- Where Is It Observed: International
- Primary Theme: LGBTQ+ Youth Support And Visibility
- Hashtags: #WearItPurple #WearItPurpleDay #WIPD #PurpleFriday #LGBTQYouth
Quick links: Wear It Purple Day
Why Wear It Purple Day Matters
Queer young people include individuals under the age of 24 who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Supporting them means understanding their unique challenges, advocating for equality, and demanding visibility and representation.
As such, initiatives like Wear It Purple Day aim to raise awareness, support queer young people, and celebrate diversity. Born as a response to a tragic event, it became an annual event to foster safer environments in 2010.
On this day, wearing purple shows the rainbow youth in our community that they are respected and valued.
Wear It Purple Day holds events to tackle challenges related to sexuality and gender identity, like bullying and harassment. This observance becomes even more important, considering that LGBTQ+ youth also struggle with mental health problems, self-harm, and high suicide rates.
Let us draw attention to these issues and stress the need for a safe environment for everyone to express their identity.
Data and Statistics
Per the Trevor Project, LGBTQ+ youth are statistically more likely to contemplate taking their own lives compared to their straight peers. In the USA, 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-24 have seriously considered suicide in the past year.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, 17.3% of LGBTQ+ youth have not disclosed their sexual orientation/gender identity to at least one member of their family. Almost two-thirds have experienced at least one positive parental support, and over half have received at least one form of parental rejection.
The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) reports that 86.3% of LGBTQ+ students have suffered harassment or assault at school due to their personal characteristics.
How to Support Queer Young People
- Encourage open and respectful conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity. Doing this creates a safe space for queer young people to express themselves and their concerns.
- Advocate for queer rights and equality in local communities and schools by supporting policies and initiatives that protect queer young people from discrimination and bullying.
- Provide resources and connections to LGBTQ+ support groups and organizations that offer specialized guidance, counseling, and peer support.
- Show unconditional love and acceptance. Reassure queer young people of their worth and validate their identity, which will boost their self-esteem and mental health.
- Study the LGBTQ+ community, its history, and the challenges queer young people face.
Brief Timeline of Wear It Purple Day
Katherine Hudson and Scott Williams, two high school students in Australia, founded Wear It Purple Day in response to the suicide of New Jersey teen Tyler Clementi.
The first Wear It Purple Day was held, showing young people across the globe that there is hope, that there are people who support and accept them, and that they have the right to be proud of who they are.
The campaign quickly gained momentum and expanded to include schools, universities, and workplaces across Australia and internationally.
Wear It Purple Day became a registered student-run non-profit organization in Australia.
Wear It Purple Day Themes and Hashtags
| August 28, 2020 | We Are the Change |
| August 27, 2021 | Start the Conversation…Keep It Going |
| August 26, 2022 | Still Me, Still Human |
| August 25, 2023 | Write Your Story |
| August 30, 2024 | Your Passion, Your Pride |
Spread the word about Wear It Purple Day using the following hashtags:
- #WearItPurpleDay
- #LGBTQSupport
- #PurplePride
- #StandUpStandOut
- #EqualityMatters
Conclusion
Wear It Purple Day celebrates the strength and diversity of the queer youth community while raising awareness about LGBTQ+ issues. Celebrating this event helps create a more inclusive society through understanding, confronting biased views, and standing against discrimination.
Ultimately, we must foster an environment where every young person feels safe, appreciated, and valued. Every effort and voice counts.
Resources:
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
This global movement promotes inclusion and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ youth, or rainbow young people or rainbow youth.
It is an annual event held on the last Friday in August.
This event raises awareness about the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ youth and promotes a safe and supportive environment.
Wear purple clothing or accessories or spread awareness on social media. You can also check out relevant articles from Gay News Network in Australia and other websites.
This event encourages conversations about diversity, inclusion, and acceptance, fostering a more inclusive society involving kids of different backgrounds and identities.
Mike is a degree-qualified researcher and writer passionate about increasing global awareness about climate change and encouraging people to act collectively in resolving these issues.
Fact Checked By:
Isabela Sedano, BEng.
