Pink Shirt Day
Pink Shirt Day aims to raise awareness of bullying. The day originated in Canada in 2007, when a male student was threatened and harassed for wearing a pink shirt on the first day of school. In response, two high school students took a stand against homophobic bullying by buying and distributing 50 pink shirts at their school.
In Canada, Pink Shirt Day is recognized annually on the last Wednesday of February. Similarly, the International Day of Pink is a day against homophobic, transphobic, and all forms of bullying, recognized annually on the second Wednesday of April. Both days remind us that all colours are for everyone.
Everyone Can Celebrate a Pink Day
Whichever of these days your school chooses to celebrate, be creative, have fun, and most importantly make the day meaningful by exploring the origin of the day, how gender stereotypes affect us all, and the importance of speaking up when we hear name-calling or discrimination. Start by checking out our Pink Shirt Day Toolkit and be sure to deliver a SOGI-inclusive lesson plan.
