This is why we should all wear purple today

For a lot of people reading this, today may seem like just another Friday, but for young LGBTQIA+ people like us, it's a lot more than that. Today, 28 August 2020, is Wear it Purple Day, where communities worldwide don their finest purple attire in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community.

Who are we?

Hi, I’m Rose.

My name is Rose Jowett Smith and I’m studying arts with a double major in psychology and Indonesian. I’m in my second year at Trinity College, and I’m lucky enough to be one of the 2020 queer representatives.

And hi, I’m Jasper.

My name is Jasper Garner and I’m a second-year arts student with a psychology major. I moved to Melbourne at the start of last year. I am now a queer representative at Trinity alongside Rose.

What do we do?

Together, we lead Trinity's own Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA). The GSA is a student-run initiative geared at facilitating a safe and uplifting environment for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, serving as an integral aspect of college life.

Having a formal entity of hand-selected students that each have an immense passion and genuine care for the wellbeing of our queer college residents ensures the cohort is consistently in good stead to remain a positive living environment for people of all sexualities and gender identities.

What’s Wear it Purple all about?

ROSE: Wear it Purple is an organisation that was founded in 2010 in response to the significant and growing numbers of LGBTQIA+ youth suicides. Since then, Wear it Purple Day has been held annually, aiming to show young rainbow people globally that there are people who support and accept them, and that they should be proud of who they are. All of this is done through the simple act of wearing purple.

As of February 2020, the National LGBTI Health Alliance has recorded that LGBTI people aged 16-27 years are five times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population. This is a tragic and yet very real issue that continues to plague our community. Wear it Purple Day is an opportunity to show that we as a society are not willing to sit down and accept this, and that we will continue to value and celebrate LGBTQIA+ lives.

In the current travel and lockdown restrictions, our community is now more isolated than ever. This makes it all the more difficult for LGBTQIA+ youth to stay connected to care for our mental health, let alone to celebrate our pride. The small act of wearing purple on your morning walk or trip to the supermarket has the capacity to spread hope and acceptance while we are desperately in need. So, whether you are part of the LGBTQIA+ community or you are an ally, I urge you to support LGBTQIA+ youth and wear purple today.

What is LGBTQIA+ life like at Trinity?

JASPER: Engaging with and promoting participation in Wear it Purple Day at Trinity is one way in which the GSA aims to foster a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community. Our role at college is organising and running a range of events and initiatives for the college community. While COVID-19 has meant a lot of this year’s plans couldn’t go ahead, the GSA has done our best to ensure on and off-campus residents have been able to participate and engage with the LGBTQIA+ community.

A standout example of an initiative we ran on IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia) involved allowing students to anonymously share testimonials of support and appreciation for the LGBTQIA+ community, which were then posted on the day in our college Facebook page for all to read. There was also IDAHOBIT-themed painting out on the Bulpadock (our central lawn) and rainbow-themed treats were provided at Toast Time. This is just one example in which the GSA has recognised a significant day such as IDAHOBIT, in the best way we know how given the circumstances.

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community myself, I think I speak for many when I say that I almost immediately felt comfortable at Trinity. In high school, I didn’t feel nearly as supported or understood in relation to my sexuality. While I'm sure a lot of that has to do with the age group of students in high school, I commend and am proud of Trinity's past and ongoing efforts to foster the LGBTQIA+ friendly environment that I believe it is today.

What can we all do to show our support?

ROSE: Wearing purple today is a powerful way to support and accept the LGBTQIA+ community at a public societal level, but there is so much more we can do to continue to work towards equality and celebrate our diversity. I believe the best way to become more understanding and compassionate towards any topic is through education, and this not only helps the LGBTQIA+ community, but also helps you to be a more responsible and integrated citizen. You can also help by supporting local LGBTQIA+ businesses, and by donating to organisations such as Wear it Purple.