Eve Jeffery
It’s hard enough being a teenager without the added trauma of being bullied for your sexual or gender identity.
Since 2010 high school and university students have been showing support for their LGBTIQA+ brothers and sisters on the last day of August by wearing purple to celebrate diversity.
Local woman Kiri Woods says she has seen her LGBTIQA+ friends suffer at the hands of bigotry and she’ll definitely be wearing purple this Friday.
‘I feel that as a young, straight, Aboriginal woman my existence carries a responsibility to advocate for those who aren’t in circumstances to have a voice,’ she says. ‘As a race, a community, and as individuals, it is our duty to work towards a brighter, safer, equal, and accepting future and culture for the greater good.’
Kiri says she feels privileged to be in the position that gives her the opportunity to use her voice to work towards an equal and safe future.
Use your voice
‘We all have a voice; how you choose to use it is entirely up to you. Let’s act with kindness and love, let’s arm our youth with knowledge and education, let’s teach them the way to a greater future where those who are LGBTIQA+ can flourish and live a life that excludes fear and ridicule. I stand and will always stand for all members of the community to ensure they have the same privilege that I have. Act with love not fear.’
For more about Wear It Purple Day, visit the Wear It Purple Day website.
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