Day of Pink to be honoured in-person this year
For the first time in two years, the university community is invited to come out on April 13 to show their support for their 2SLGBTQ+ colleagues and community members.
With the return to campus, Positive Space network community building and events will also resume, and the team of volunteer faculty and staff eagerly invites the university community to join them at the International Day of Pink celebration on April 13.
The International Day of Pink was founded in 2007, inspired by an act of solidarity by Nova Scotia students who stood up for a younger student who was being harassed and bullied for wearing the colour pink. Hundreds of students wore pink to school to send a strong message to the younger student that he was not alone.
Resuming a tradition Positive Space has led for many years, university community members are invited to gather in the amphitheatre of the Student Learning Centre (SLC) from 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. on April 13, for remarks to commemorate the day and a group photo. Those attending are encouraged to wear pink clothing or accessories, or something that embodies this year’s theme of “Represent.”
Positive Space co-chairs Michael Turco and Dan Cantiller are thrilled to see the university community come together in-person as a show of support for 2SLGBTQ+ community members and to reject transphobic and homophobic bullying.
“When we started as co-chairs in summer 2021, we knew that it was not going to be any ordinary year,” they say. “Knowing that some in the 2SLGBTQ+ community were experiencing challenges and stress aggravated by the pandemic, we were intentional in setting out to focus our efforts on community needs.
“Through a community needs and feedback survey shared with the community in summer 2021, we set priorities of intentional advocacy and combating isolation in the community. We're really grateful that we're able to start to forge ahead again with this in-person.”
“The pandemic has certainly been challenging for everyone, but the past two years have been especially tough on 2SLGBTQ+ youth, who may or may not be out at home,” says Andrea Houston, a member of Positive Space and instructor of Queer Media at the School of Journalism.
“Some may be in homes that are not safe, and they may feel isolated and alone. For those students, university can be a much-needed, affirming relief to finally live truthfully as their most authentic self.”
Houston says there’s a lot of power in standing up and standing with community, and Day of Pink is about just that. “That representation is incredibly empowering.”
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