On Wednesdays we wear pink, and on Wednesday, April 14, we wear it to symbolize that we do not tolerate bullying.
The International Day of Pink recognizes that discrimination takes many shapes, whether it’s based on race, age, disabilities, gender or sexuality. It also acknowledges that the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is no stranger to the bullying and violence that stems from hateful beliefs.
While progress has been made towards removing these social barriers from our society, discrimination still persists. So, every year, on the second Wednesday of April, people around the world put on a pink shirt and stand in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to continue fighting for equality and acceptance.
This week on Let’s Talk About, we’re fortunate enough to be joined by three advocates that have worked with organizations around Canada to spread this message and encourage young activists to stand up: Jeremy Dias, John R. Sylliboy, and Melissa and Warner.
Since the International Day of Pink‘s purpose is to create a more inclusive and diverse world, Sylliboy, Warner, Melissa, and Dias encourage young people to challenge social norms, ask more of their educators, and stand up against bullying towards their 2SLGBTQIA+ peers.
Remember: bullying and cyberbullying happen everyday. Participating in Pink Shirt Day is one way to show your support for victims of unnecessary and in some cases, unlawful, verbal and physical abuse. However, it’s important to use your voice against unjust bullying and cyberbullying whenever you can.