International Day of Pink – April 12, 2023

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International Day of Pink – April 12, 2023

On April 12, HWDSB celebrates International Day of Pink, an initiative that began in 2007 when two Grade 12 football players, David Shepherd and Travis Price, witnessed a Grade 9 student being bullied for wearing a pink shirt. The student was threatened and called homophobic slurs.

In response to witnessing this situation, the two football players bought and distributed 50 pink shirts, which they encouraged their peers to wear the next day in an act of solidarity. The initiative spearheaded an international campaign where students, staff, and community members wear pink shirts to take a stand against homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying.

We appreciate students, staff, and community members for considering to wear pink this April 12. It is important that communities work together to create a culture of care and kindness where inclusion is the norm in schools and workplaces.

We recognize Pink Shirt Day in February and International Day of Pink in April. The days have similar origins but are distinct: Pink Shirt Day has a general anti-bullying focus, while International Day of Pink focuses specifically on homophobic and transphobic bullying.

While a lot has changed since 2007, students, staff, and community members who identify as Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ still face systemic barriers, bullying, and discrimination. It is unfortunate that these issues continue to persist in HWDSB schools and workplaces. Efforts like International Day of Pink are important because they are used to spread awareness and validate identities.

International Day of Pink celebrates allyship and those who stand up to discrimination and hate against Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ communities. These acts of support are a good start; however, we must ensure that we are fostering inclusive, welcoming, and supportive spaces where everyone can be their authentic selves. We must also engage in conversations with students, staff, and community members about how these spaces can be created and grown.

HWDSB’s Human Rights Policy outlines the Board’s commitment that:

Everyone is treated with dignity and respect
Everyone is supported and accepted
Everyone is free from discrimination and harassment
HWDSB’s learning and workplaces are welcoming, respectful, accessible and free from systemic discrimination, harassment and different forms of oppression.

Let’s continue to hold ourselves accountable to this policy, and work together to create schools that are safe and accepting places for all.

Sincerely,

Paul Denomme
Superintendent, Equity and Safe Schools

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Updated on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

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