26 August 2024

Celebrate Wear it Purple Day

On Friday 30 August 2024, Wear It Purple Day will empower LGBTIQA+ youth to dream big and share ‘your passion, your pride’ – the powerful theme for this year’s international movement.

Held on the last Friday of August each year, Wear It Purple Day shows young LGBTIQA+ people they have the right to be proud of who they are, and that they are seen and supported. It’s also about creating safe spaces in schools, universities, workplaces and in public.

On Friday Wear It Purple Day will unite the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to shine a light on the thousands of organisations and workplaces coming together to create a more inclusive future for all Australians.

Here at Deakin University, we aim to create a place where LGBTIQA+ people feel included, have a deep sense of belonging and can thrive in their chosen paths.

Quotes:

‘Deakin’s LGBTIQA+ Community is strong. I have had the opportunity to connect with many LGBTIQA+ students and staff and have been able to form deep connections and feel safe and proud of who I am.’

Will (He/Him)
(Casual Staff member / Student)

‘It (My Passion, My Pride) emanates as a result of my life experiences and is anchored in my thoughts, emotions and actions that I take a huge pride in who I am and how I represent my identities.’

‘All students and staff should be taught about LGBTIQA+ people and cultures or at least about trans and gender diverse (including intersex) people.’

Estelle (She/They)
(PhD Student)

On-campus Burwood activity

Burwood Library Exhibition Space
Rainbow Connections: LGBT+ people living with dementia and their peers
This exhibition showcases portrait photography by Fiona Wolf as an output of research undertaken by Dr Louisa Smith from Deakin’s School of Health and Social Development and Institute of Health Transformation.

How to be involved in the community

Geelong

GASP: Wear It Purple Youth Event | Friday 30 Aug 2024, 5–9pm AEST
There will be Fabulous Entertainment from local performers, Food & Snacks, Photobooth & Arcade Games, Arts & Crafts – Sensory Room, Bingo, Trivia & Prizes! Register now for your free ticket

Melbourne

All About Yves: Yves Rees Author Talk for Wear It Purple Day – Boroondara Youth Hub | Tuesday 27 August 2024, 6–7pm AEST
All About Yves tells their moving journey of re-becoming, at the same time laying bare the messiness of bodies, gender and identity. Reserve a spot now

QSA X Switchboard – Wear It Purple Roller Disco – Carlton | Saturday 31 August 2024, 5–8pm AEST
QSA Rollers is a fun, community focused social roller disco aimed at the LGBTIQA+ community and their allies. Get your free tickets here

Minus18 LGBTIQA+ Survey
Queer Youth Now: The National Survey of LGBTQIA+ Youth Voice in Australia is here! This national survey of LGBTQIA+ youth aged 13 to 25 aims to address the sorely limited up-to-date data that exists on the experiences of queer young people in Australia. The goal? To empower the work of services, teams and organisations that support LGBTQIA+ young people around the country – and to inform entirely new projects all over the sector. Because the voices of young people matter, and we want to make sure they’re heard! Complete the survey here

Join our Deakin Pride Network
The LGBTIQ+ Pride Network is a member-led network, designed to provide community, social support, and a safe and welcoming space for LGBTIQ+ staff, students, and allies. If you would like to be a member of the Deakin Pride Network, please register here or email [email protected].

We stand with our LGBTIQ+ community

There’s a range of LGBTIQ+ support at Deakin, so learn more about what help is available and read our LGBTIQ+ Inclusion and Engagement Plan. You can become a member of our LGBTIQ+ Pride Network by emailing [email protected].

Our gender affirmation policy outlines how we support anyone from Deakin who is undergoing, or considering undergoing, a gender affirmation. Find out more about what help is available to you, including external services.

Need someone to talk to? Our Counselling and Psychological Support service is safe, respectful and inclusive. Find out more about Deakin’s student health and wellbeing services.

Please see the resources below for support external to Deakin.

Deakin pledges to never stay silent about homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. We will always stand with our LGBTIQ+ students and staff.