Wear your support, Wear It Purple

While teal with a dash of orange might be HOPE’s colours of choice, this week team members will be decked out in shades of lilac, violet and magenta to mark Wear It Purple Day.

Founded in 2010 by a grassroots Australian movement, Wear It Purple Day encourages allies to show their support of LGBTIQA+ young people by incorporating a splash of purple into their oufit.

Wear It Purple is celebrated in schools, universities and workplaces around the country on the last Friday in August each year.

Why do we Wear It Purple?

Wear It Purple Day is underpinned by a shared belief that every young person deserves to feel safe, supported and proud of who they are.

With 2 in 3 LGBTIQA+ young people still experiencing abuse for who they are, the day is an important opportunity to show support and allyship.

“Taking part in this day sends a strong message that HOPE is a place that LGBTIQA+ young people can be seen, heard and safe,” says HOPE Culture and Diversity Officer Tess Lau.

“By acknowledging Wear It Purple Day, and other days like this, we recognise and honour the LGBTIQA+ community and acknowledge the struggles that some still face.

“It’s also a way of showing our LGBTIQA+ team members that they too are seen, valued and loved.”

Flags, pins and cupcakes

Whether it’s displaying pins and flags or eating purple cupcakes, Wear It Purple Day promotes conversation and allyship among team members.

“Expressing allyship is really important in our organisation,” says Tess.

“We want to make sure that our acceptance and openness to clients from diverse backgrounds is also afforded to the staff body.”

Creating inclusive services

As an organisation, HOPE is committed to providing individuals and families with inclusive and non-judgemental services that enable them to thrive.

Fostering a positive attitude to LGBTQIA+ community is an integral part of providing such services, says Tess.

“Gender expression and sexual orientation are central to our identities and shape our lives. Hiding these aspects to stay safe or accepted means concealing a vital part of who we are,” she explains.

“To support our clients, young clients in particular, we need to actively demonstrate our acceptance and inclusion of the LGBTIQA+ community.”

Wear It Purple Day is held on the last Friday in August every year. Find out more at WEAR IT PURPLE