Join us for the Deakin Human Library in celebration of Wear it Purple day
Wear it Purple day on Friday 26th August, is an international movement aimed at fostering safe and inclusive environments for LGBTIQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and gender diverse, Queer/Questioning) young people.
Wear it Purple Day is about showing young people that they have the right to be proud of who they are. It is about creating safe spaces in schools, universities, workplaces, and public spaces to show LGBTIQ+ young people that they are seen and supported.
As a University community, we work towards creating an environment of inclusion where we value our diversity, embrace difference, and nurture a connected, safe and respectful community.
This year we celebrate the theme ‘Still Me, Still Human’. Forget the labels, the news story, the data – ultimately we are all human. To celebrate this theme, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are partnering with the Deakin University Library to promote the voices and stories of wonderful humans from the LGBTIQ+ and Allies community in our Wear it Purple Human Library Event.
The Human Library concept
A human library in short, is a group of people with a story to share. Human books are available for loan by people who are interested in hearing their stories. Through positive, personal dialogue, the human library’s goals are to encourage new perspectives, in a safe space, to celebrate differences and to promote inclusive communities.
The Wear it Purple Human Library event is designed to promote social inclusion by building understanding and empathy through the personal stories of people who are connected with the LGBTIQ+ community.
The Wear it Purple Human Library event
Our Human Books are available to loan for a 15-minute conversation where you will have the opportunity to hear their individual stories, engage in positive, personal dialogue and walk away with a greater understanding and appreciation of their experience.
Events will be held across all campuses, but tickets are limited so get in quick! Details of event locations and links to register for speakers can be found below:
Burwood Campus
Tuesday 23 August 2022 at 10:30am – 11:30am
Register for the Burwood campus event
Geelong Waterfront Campus
Wednesday 24 August 2022 at 10.30am-11.30am
Register for the Waterfront campus event
Waurn Ponds Campus
Thursday 25 August 2022 at 12pm-1pm
Register for the Waurn Ponds Campus event
Warrnambool Campus
Thursday 25 August 2.30-3.30pm
Register for the Warrnambool Campus event
Online panel event
If you can’t make it to campus, join us for a live panel conversation with panellists:
- Mel Martinelli (Executive Director, Equity and Inclusion)
- Hero Macdonald (University Librarian)
- Tom Molyneux (Manager, Indigenous Inclusion)
- Monee Poole (DUSA Geelong Queer Representative)
- Vishal Ravindran (DUSA Burwood Queer Representative)
The panel will be discussing fostering inclusion and this year’s Wear it Purple Day theme ‘Still Me, Still Human’. This event will take place on Friday 26 August from 2-2.45pm.
For all event enquiries and to submit a question for the panel please email [email protected].
Visit the Deakin Staff and Student LGBTIQ+ webpage to find out about support available for LGBTIQ+ staff and students at Deakin.
Visit the Deakin University Library to find out what’s happening at our on-campus libraries.