Pink Shirt Day is an anti-bullying campaign that began in 2007 when two high school students in Nova Scotia, David Shepherd and Travis Price, stood up for a fellow classmate who received homophobic harassment for wearing a pink shirt. Following this, they organized a movement throughout their school for everyone to wear a pink shirt on the same day as a show of solidarity and that bullying, and homophobia would not be tolerated. Pink Shirt Day has now become an international movement that takes place on the last Wednesday of February each year. It is recognized globally and has become an important day of awareness for many LGBTQ+ youths.

While bullying can happen to anyone, LBGTQ+ kids in school seem to receive the brunt of this abuse. The pink shirt movement is meant to show support for LBGTQ+ kids and stand up against bullying in all forms. It’s a sign of solidarity from teachers, allies, and fellow LGBTQ+ students. It can show that you are a safe space for someone who’s being bullied and needs support.

The movement encourages everyone to wear a pink shirt, but more than that, it asks people to take a stand against bullying in all its forms. The pink shirt movement is an important symbol of acceptance and inclusion, which ultimately strives to create a more open and safer environment for all members of the community, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

If you would like to get involved, it’s easy! It can be as simple as wearing a pink shirt and encouraging your peers, whether it’s in the workplace, at school, or even at your local gym, to do the same! Doing so can make a huge difference for those who may be struggling with bullying, and it serves as a reminder that we are all in this together! While it may have originally begun as a movement in high school, homophobic harassment can happen anywhere, and at any age.

Here are some ways you can get involved and contribute to Pink Shirt Day – held on February 23, 2023: 

• Enlist your workplace! Look for your country’s Pink Shirt Day organization and sign up! You can order shirts for your coworkers or employees, possibly start up a fundraiser, or even put-up posters to show that your workplace will not tolerate bullying or harassment.
  
• Posters! If your school or workplace is holding an event, or simply recognizing Pink Shirt Day, putting up some posters will help spread the word! The posters are free to print, so you can make as many as you need.
  
• Donate! You can visit the site and donate directly to the CKNW Kids Fund. “With your help, we have distributed over $2.68 million to anti-bullying initiatives in BC that directly help youth in need. But the need for program funding isn’t over. Let’s stand together against bullying.” 

Getting bullied and harrassed is hard, but it’s easy to take a stand and support your peers! Whether you work at a school, an office, or the local brunch spot, organizing a Pink Shirt Day will not only bring everyone together, but also show that you offer a safe space free of harassment.