Wear It Purple 2024
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 7, 27 September 2024, page 16.
Wear It Purple Day is an annual event celebrated in many schools across Australia and overseas, designed to celebrate LGBTQIA+ youth. When schools mark this day, it sends a clear message to LGBTQIA+ students that they are welcome and valued in Queensland state schools.
Wear It Purple sits alongside other school calendar events such as Harmony Day and NAIDOC Week, which work to celebrate the diversity of our community and the students we teach.
This year the theme was “Your passion, your pride”.
It was great to see so many schools celebrating the day. Schools ran activities such as purple free dress and offering purple hair spray. In one primary school, QTU members put on an age-appropriate drag performance showcasing Taylor Swift’s eras. It was a huge hit with students; one described it as “the best thing ever!”.
Why support Wear It Purple?
International, federal and state law prohibits discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community, yet sadly it continues.
There is no place for hate in state schools.
Educators know that students perform better academically when they feel welcomed and valued at school. Conversely, the mental health and academic success of students, including LGBTQIA+ students, suffers when students don’t have a sense of belonging at school.
The Queensland Human Rights Commission recognises the importance of this: “All students and their families should feel that they belong in their school community.
“A sense of belonging is conducive to an environment in which students feel confident to participate, and which enables them to reach their full potential.” (Queensland Human Rights Commission https://www.qhrc.qld.gov.au/your-rights/for-lgbtiq-people)
This is echoed in the state government’s new “Pride in our Communities 2024 – 2032” document, which states: “The Queensland Government is continuing to take action to support LGBTQIA+ students, their families and staff through creating safe and inclusive learning environments” (p39).
Marking Wear It Purple and other days of significance to the LGBTQIA+ community is one way that schools can foster a safe and inclusive learning environment.
Department of Education support and PD
The Department of Education supports Wear It Purple Day, and the department’s LGBTQIA+ Student Inclusion team are experts in assisting schools to support their LGBTQIA+ students.
That team is offering free professional development in a number of locations next term. The flyer indicates: “The workshops are designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to help schools implement a whole-school approach in creating inclusive, safe environment for LGBTIQ+ students.
"Guided by social and emotional wellbeing frameworks, and embedded in education policies and procedures, participants will gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the protective factors we can all use to help support LGBTIQ+ students in Queensland state schools reach their potential.”
To register, visit:
https://events.humanitix.com/lgbtiq-student-inclusion-workshop-north-coast-29-october-2024
https://events.humanitix.com/lgbtiq-student-inclusion-workshop-central-queensland-region-22-october-2024
https://events.humanitix.com/lgbtiq-student-inclusion-capability-and-confidence-workshop-term-4-2024
Contact LGBTIQStudentInclusion@qed.qld.gov.au with any questions.
2025 Wear It Purple
Wear It Purple is an annual event, and it is growing every year. So, save the date for next year – Wear It Purple will be celebrated on 29 August 2025.
There is a host of resources available on the Wear It Purple website (see https://www.wearitpurple.org/schools) and free merch can be ordered ahead of the day to support your school’s event.