Diversity wins

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Most companies have diversity and inclusion strategies de rigueur however it's always valuable to take time to reflect on how these strategies in action create a positive impact.

Wear it Purple Day takes place on the last Friday of August each year and is the ideal opportunity to demonstrate support for rainbow young people AND a good reminder to empower inclusion and celebrate diversity every day.

What is Wear It Purple Day?

Wear it Purple is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization that promotes awareness of LGBTQI+ health and well-being. The very first Wear It Purple Day asked participants to wear purple as a show of support for queer teens to highlight the challenges they face.

Why Purple?

Purple was chosen deliberately. It's not a primary colour rather a blend of many hues - embodying the spirit of unity in diversity.

Allyship

It's such an important thing, demonstrating acceptance, equality and support. We are all human and make mistakes. You don't have to be an "expert" to be an ally.

It's okay to ask, listen and learn through trial and error. This helps us all grow.

Genuine support can be: challenging prejudice, respecting pronouns, and uplifting others.

Tokenism v Genuine Intent

Sometimes we may think a small gesture could come across token however if done with genuine intent it will always have a meaningful and positive impact. It's about being mindful of motivations.

• Support is about actively living and promoting inclusivity. Creating a safe and welcoming environment every day.
• Value to the contributions of those from diverse backgrounds and provide valuable opportunities for inclusion.
• Foster a culture of respect, empathy, and inclusion through ongoing education and dialogue.

It's also okay to not know everything

Sometimes I'm asked, "what does the acronym stand for" or "it's 2023 what impact do days like this have?".

Breaking down LGBTQI+

Understanding and using the language/terminology helps with inclusion and respect.

Important to note there are other variations of the acronym and there is no single LGBTQI+ community, rather a plurality of identities and experiences.?

So, specifically the acronym represents..

1. Sexual orientation: L - Lesbian, G - Gay, B - Bisexual.
2. Gender: T - Transgender.
3. Sex: I - Intersex
4. Other identities: Q - Queer/questioning and the "+" is identities not explicitly mentioned - for example, pansexual, non-binary, and genderfluid.

You can learn more here:?https://aifs.gov.au/resources/resource-sheets/lgbtiqa-glossary-common-terms

Yes, we certainly have made loads of progress however promoting inclusion and diversity is still ongoing.

Gestures may seem small however it's often these that have the most meaningful impact.

How to celebrate "Wear It Purple Day"

1. Embrace support and unity.
2. Amplify voices and experiences of LGBTQI+.
3. Encourage staff or members of the I&D Council to share their stories.
4. Wear some purple
5. Host a company morning tea.

These types of activities make a difference and create an environment where everyone belongs, feels valued and accepted, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.