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Asian pupils, parents and teachers turn schools purple to support LGBTI youth
LGBTI students across Asia are being made to feel safe in the classroom thanks to a new campaign.
Backed by groups including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the campaign, #PurpleMySchool, encourages young people to wear, draw or make something purple in support of LGBTI youth.
‘Many young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people are bullied over their sexuality or gender identity, and walking into school every day can fill them with fear and dread,’ the Purple My School Facebook page explains.
‘Show that they can feel safe with you, in your classroom or school.’
Students from Harbin Medical University, China wear purple in support of LGBTI youth
Since its launch, to coincide with International Youth Day on 12 August, the campaign has received submissions from students, teachers and parents across the Asia-Pacific region, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, China and the Philippines.
These include wearing purple ribbons, creating purple flower garlands, making special t-shirts, or even simply turning up to school in a variety of purple outfits.
But spending the day being creative wearing purple is only an outward sign of three inward pledges all the participants are making to support LGBTI youth.
Anyone sharing a photo is urged to ‘never tolerate or excuse bullying’, to ‘be a person that young LGBTI people can turn to’, and to do what they can to ‘create a safe space for young LGBTI students’.
Students from Samar State University, Philippines, celebrate diversity
From now until 10 December, those taking part in the campaign can submit their photos; the best images will be collated and published in a publication about bullying, with materials available in Indonesian, Chinese, English, Vietnamese, Hindi and Thai.
The post Asian pupils, parents and teachers turn schools purple to support LGBTI youth appeared first on Gay Star News.
Mel Spencer
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