By Victoria Stone-Meadows
FRIDAY 26 August is Wear It Purple Day, where everyone can show their support for LQBTIQ youth by wearing purple clothing.
Emerald Secondary College marked the day by raising the rainbow flag and encouraging students to wear purple in support of their LGBTIQ classmates.
Students organised that day with help from Cardinia Shire’s Youth Support and Engagement Officer, Miranda Luck.
Cardinia Shire Council Youth Services works in partnership with local secondary colleges, such as Emerald Secondary, to create a safe environment for Same Sex Attracted, Sex and Gender Diverse (SSASGD) young people.
Cardinia Council’s aim in supporting these event days is to raise awareness around discrimination against SSASGD young people and provide a positive platform to celebrate their diversity.
Emerald Secondary student Alex Thompson, who helped organise the Wear it Purple day, said it was a long time in the planning but very important to her personally.
“We have been planning this since May and being gay myself is a factor in why I wanted to help organise today,” she said.
“When people see LGBTIQ events like this, we can encourage other people to be who they are.”
Fellow student and event organiser Georgia Darroch said the flag raising ceremony and wearing purple were power symbols that sent a message of acceptance.
“The flag and this day symbolises not hesitating in coming out and gives people the recognition and acceptance to be who they are,” she said.
The students at Emerald Secondary College extended their thanks to Cardinia Shire Council for their support.
“We want to thank Cardinia Shire; we did this by ourselves last year and without the shire’s help this year wouldn’t be possible,” Ms Thompson said.
“We want people to be proud of who they are.”
