International Day of Pink 2023: Annually, International Day of Pink is observed on the second Wednesday of April; this year, it will be observed on the 12 April. This day was established as a campaign to halt bullying against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, furthering the struggle for equality, diversity, and acceptance. The day seeks to make the world more diverse and inclusive. On this day, people around the world are encouraged to wear pink to show their opposition to discrimination and support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The community believes that donning pink on International Day of Pink symbolises tolerance, bravery, diversity, equality, and inclusion.
History of International Relations DAY OF PINK
In 2007, at Central Kings Rural High School in Nova Scotia, Canada, two straight high school students, David Shepherd and Travis Price, witnessed a gay student being harassed for donning a pink polo shirt. They decided to take action and went to a nearby discount store, where they purchased 50 pink shirts, including tank tops, to wear the next day to school. They communicated the news to their colleagues online and invited them to join the fight against homophobic bullying. The following day, thousands of pupils wore pink clothing.
Jer’s Vision established the International Day of Pink (now the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity). Although similar to Pink Shirt Day in February, which seeks to end all forms of discrimination, the purpose of International Day of Pink in April is to express support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in their ongoing fight for equality and acceptance. The day aims to make the world more diverse and inclusive by encouraging youth to challenge social norms, demand more from their educators, and stand up to 2SLGBTQIA+ abuse.
In the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, discrimination can be based on age, disabilities, gender, race, or sexual orientation. International Day of Pink is celebrated as the first step towards eradicating these social barriers from society and making a difference. It is believed that wearing pink on this day represents acceptance, courage, diversity, equality, inclusivity, compassion, and unity. Support and participation from those outside the community will aid in the dissemination of the message of establishing a more inclusive and diverse world. With any luck, discrimination against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community will cease.
5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SEXUALITY
There is no choice.
Sexuality is not a conscious decision made by an individual.
Two individuals per hundred are non-heterosexual.
Approximately 2% of the population identifies as bisexual, homosexual, or lesbian.
Some are aware of their sexual orientation.
Some individuals are aware of their sexuality, while others choose to experiment while investigating it.
Homosexuality is not an illness of the mind.
Homosexuality was once believed to be a mental disorder, but this is no longer the case.
It is common to be uncertain about it
It is common to be uncertain or uneasy with one’s sexuality.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PINK DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 12 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | April 12 | Friday |
| 2025 | April 12 | Saturday |
| 2026 | April 12 | Sunday |
| 2027 | April 12 | Monday |
