Wear it Purple Day

The last Friday of August each year is Wear It Purple Day. And like other wonderfully purple things (Cadbury’s chocolate-bar wrappers, grape-flavoured Hubba Bubba and Prince circa 1984, to name a few), it's pretty special. Wear It Purple Day is all about celebrating and supporting young LGBTQIA+ people, and challenging societal attitudes to help shape a better world for us all to live in.

Who's behind Wear it Purple Day?

Wear it Purple, of course! Wear It Purple is a student-run, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting young people who identify as sexually and/or gender diverse (i.e. rainbow). They work hard to raise awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community by working with organisations, schools, and workplaces, and provide safe and supportive spaces for rainbow young people both online and in person.

How can I get involved?

There are lots of different ways to get involved and to show your support for rainbow young people this August!

• Break into your wardrobe and don your brightest and loudest purple get-up. If you don't own anything purple, Wear It Purple has got you covered!

• Let people know why you're looking extra special in your purple gear.

• Hashtag and share! Use #wearitpurple to take over social media in the most purple way possible.

• Organise an event at your school, workplace or organisation, and get everyone involved in showing their support.

• Volunteer for Wear It Purple.

But wait! Supporting the community isn't a one-day thing...

Members of the LGBTQIA+ community don’t just need your support on the last Friday in August - being an ally is a life-long commitment. So how can you support the community every other day of the year?

Think about others

Wear It Purple Day is a great opportunity to think about how you perceive other people, and how you can improve on being inclusive and respectful. Stand up and speak out. Learn about issues that are important to the community. If you come across a situation where others are being disrespectful to the LGBTQIA+ community, let them know it's not on. Encourage other people in your life to learn more about LGBTQIA+ issues and how they can be better allies to the community. Using your knowledge and passion for good is one of the best ways you can show your support for the rainbow community year-round.

Where can I find support after Wear It Purple Day?

While it’s fantastic to feel supported on Wear It Purple Day, the chances are that, as a young LGBTQIA+ person, you’ll need support on other days of the year too. We all do! But specialised support and spaces for young LGBTQIA+ people can be particularly helpful and empowering.

• If you’re feeling anxious about or questioning your sexual identity, this flow chart might help you figure out where you want to go from here.

• Remember that understanding your sexuality doesn’t have to be a straightforward or quick process - for many people, it’s a lifelong one! You can use this guide as a starting point, but don’t stress if you don’t come away with a concrete answer or label just yet (or ever!).

• Check out these stories from other young LGBTQIA+ Australians about how they accepted themselves or came out to loved ones. Find a local LGBTQIA+ group or organisation to get involved in - they’re a great way to make friends and find support! Here’s a list of culturally diverse LGBTQIA+ orgs around the country to get you started.