International Day of Pink

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Not to be confused with Pink Shirt Day, celebrated in Canada and New Zealand in February and May, respectively.
International Day of Pink
Journée rose
TypeInternational
SignificanceAnti-Bullying
FrequencyAnnual
First time2007; 17 years ago (2007)
Started byJer's Vision
Related to

The International Day of Pink is a worldwide anti-bullying and anti-homophobia event held annually during the second week of April.[1] Though similar to Pink Shirt Day (held in February) in that it also seeks to end all bullying, the Day of Pink is more specifically aimed towards anti-LGBTQ+ bullying.[2]

The event was sparked when a gay Canadian high-school student was witnessed by two fellow students as being bullied at their school for wearing a pink shirt. The two students got everyone at their school to wear pink the following day as a gesture of support, inspiring Jer's Vision (now Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity) to establish the International Day of Pink.[3]

In 2012, over 8 million people participated.[4][5] It is run by youth volunteers in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

History[edit]

The Day of Pink was sparked in 2007 when students David Shepherd and Travis Price saw a student being bullied for wearing a pink shirt in their Central Kings Rural High School in Nova Scotia, Canada. Shepherd and Price decided to show support for the student by getting everyone at their school to wear pink the following day.[3][2]

This initiative inspired some youth at Jer's Vision (now Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity), who thereby founded International Day of Pink, an effort to support their peers internationally with resources and ways to make their schools safer.[6][7][8][9]

Events[edit]

In 2012, students participating the Day of Pink organized numerous flash mobs, including one on Parliament Hill.[10] The International Day of Pink also shares a Gala with JersVision.org and the event has featured comedian Rick Mercer,[11] Brian Burke of the Toronto Maple Leafs,[12] and former Canadian ambassador Stephen Lewis.[9]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Day of Pink". Day of Pink. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b "International Day of Pink". westernfinancialgroup.ca. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  3. ^ a b "Bullied student tickled pink by schoolmates' T-shirt campaign". CBC. 19 September 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  4. ^ Pearson, Matthew (11 April 2012). "Day of Pink campaign comes to Ottawa". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 26 June 2012.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Pink Day anti-bullying campaign draws millions of participants worldwide". Yahoo! News The Daily Brew.
  6. ^ "Constructing Change: Celebrating the Day of Pink". Rabble.ca. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  7. ^ "Residents Wear Pink to Stand up to Bullies". Ottawa Sun. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  8. ^ "Jer's Vision Celebrates Diversity, the Day of Pink and Five Years". Xtra. 15 April 2010. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Jer's Vision and the Day of Pink Celebrating Six Years of Fighting Discrimination in Schools". Xtra. 13 April 2011. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  10. ^ Mack, Chantal. "Pink shirts bring anti-bullying message to Parliament Hill". Canada.com PostMedia Web. Retrieved 26 June 2012.[dead link]
  11. ^ "Hundreds Celebrate Day of Pink". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 26 June 2012.[dead link]
  12. ^ "Brian Burke Scores in Ottawa". Toronto Sun. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2012.

External links[edit]

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