Victoria University (VU) has celebrated acceptance ahead of international Wear It Purple day.
VU organised a series of events from August 22 to 27 designed to show strong support for the LGBTIQA+ community.
The events included a tour of Melbourne’s Victorian Pride Centre, a call for students to join VU’s Queer
Collective – a group focused on creating social events and safe spaces – and a special creative-based event.
The creative event encourages students and staff to submit stories, poems, artworks, or any form of creative expression under the theme, Your Passion, Your Pride.
The idea for this creative initiative was conceived by C Freeland, a third-year psychology student and a part-time member of VU’s Equality, Inclusion, and Belonging unit.
C sees participation in Wear It Purple not just as a means of personal growth, but as a way to ensure that others do not face the same struggles they did.
“It wasn’t until I left the workforce and came to university as a mature aged student in my 30s that I truly began to embrace who I am. Coming out as trans and non-binary marked the start of my ‘second puberty,’ a phase where I could finally grow into my authentic self,” they said.
International Wear It Purple day, observed annually on the last Friday in August, was founded in 2010 to support young rainbow people facing challenges in acceptance and support due to their sexuality or gender identity.
Wear It Purple day will take place on Friday, August 30 this year.
Details: vu.edu.au/about-vu/news-events/events/wear-it-purple-day-2024
Jaidyn Kennedy
