The Day of Pink - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

The Day of Pink is an international day to take a stand against homophobia, transphobia, and other types of bullying.

The Day of Pink began in Nova Scotia in 2007 when two Grade 12 students saw a Grade 9 boy being bullied while wearing a pink shirt on the first day of school. The bullies harassed the boy, called him a homosexual for wearing pink, and threatened to beat him up. The two Grade 12 students - David Shepherd and Travis Price bought and distributed 50 pink shirts and encouraged their fellow students to arrive at school wearing pink.

Each year since then, teachers, students, and community members have organized events to stand in solidarity against acts of bullying in their schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of activities could we run to participate in the Day of Pink?
There are many ways to participate! A few suggestions include, but are not limited to:

• wearing pink and encouraging others to do the same
• organizing a group photo and sharing it on social media or in a slide show
• writing announcements, posters, tweets, and Instagram posts about inclusion and how to stand up against homophobia, transphobia, and other types of bullying
• hold an info booth and encourage staff and students to sign a pledge or poster to stand up to acts of bullying
• use the hashtag #etfoPink

Are there resources to help me plan and learn more?
Absolutely. ETFO Provincial has compiled some resources at http://www.etfo.ca/buildingajustsociety/lgbtq/pages/dayofpink.aspx and you can also find more information at dayofpink.org.

Didn’t we already have another Day of Pink this year?
Sort of. Pink Shirt Day is a similar day held in February. It was also inspired by the events that took place in Nova Scotia 2007 but was started by former CKNW radio host - Christy Clark. It tackles bullying in general, is focused more in Western Canada, and is an annual fundraiser that supports CKNW Children’s Charities, mainly in British Columbia.

The International Day of Pink takes place on the second Wednesday in April. Its intent is to unite communities across the country and around the world in celebrating diversity and raising awareness to stop homophobia, transphobia, transmisogyny, and all forms of bullying.