An end to bullying – Celebrate #DayofPink April 10th

On a September day in 2007, two grade twelve students in Nova Scotia changed the world. That day, they observed a grade nine student being bullied and harassed because he decided to wear a pink shirt for the first day of school. The grade nine student was gay, the bullies were straight, but that didn’t stop the duo from taking action. The two older boys stepped in to stop the bullies, and the next day, they began to organize what they called a “sea of pink” at the school, to show support for their fellow student and to demand an end to bullying.

Read: Back to school: tips to keep your kids healthy and safe

Since 2007, the boys’ actions have spread across the world, and on the second Wednesday in April, we now celebrate “The Day of Pink”, where people all over the globe wear pink in solidarity with members of the LGBTQ community who have been victims of homophobic & transphobic bullying.

What is #DayofPink?

In Canada, #DayofPink is celebrated in schools and workplaces across the country. Anyone can go to dayofpink.org and download resources about homophobia, transphobia and bullying. On April 10th, everyone is encouraged to use the resources to help educate their fellow Canadians about these important issues, and to raise awareness among the LGBTQ community about resources for anyone who is being bullied and needs help.

If you wear pink, it means you are an ally. You support everyone’s right to be themselves and to not have to hide their true identity. You are standing up for diversity and you are standing against hatred, intolerance and violence in your community.

Standing against hatred, intolerance and violence is especially crucial at a time when acts of violence are carried out and mutual respect is replaced with hate. At Express Scripts Canada, we strongly believe in the power of diversity, showing mutual respect for one another and providing a safe and collaborative work environment (two of our values). We proudly support and embrace our workforce’s differences.

How to show your support for #DayofPink

Day of Pink is organized by the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD). They have a few ideas for what your school or workplace can do to make this day special:

  • Take the Pink Pledge – Essentially, pledging to be an ally and fight intolerance and hate.
  • Explore inclusion – The Day of Pink website provides a number of recommendations for movies with themes of gender and sexual diversity. You can screen one of the movies, or pass on the recommended titles (maybe on a custom-designed poster…)
  • Volunteer and donate – To LGBTQ charities and groups that support the LGBTQ community. CCGSD has a directory on their website.
  • Use the hashtag #DayofPink - Show your support on social media and share anti-bullying messages and literature.

Wearing pink on April 10th is one small step that you can take to turn the tide on homophobia, transphobia and bullying, in our schools and in our communities. Although hate and intolerance do exist, and we can’t ignore them, what better way to let the haters know that they are the small minority than to have them face a sea of pink?

As the pink pledge states, “I believe in a world where love outshines hate.” On April 10th, let’s make that world a reality.