Our Story
Wear It Purple was created to ensure every LGBTQIA+SB young person knows they are seen, supported and never alone.
Since 2010, we have worked to foster safer, more inclusive environments where young people can be proud of who they are and hopeful about their future.
Where It Began
Wear It Purple was founded in 2010 after a series of tragic stories highlighted the devastating impact that bullying, discrimination and exclusion were having on LGBTQIA+SB young people.
In response, young people and allies came together with one shared belief: every young person deserves to feel safe, supported and proud of who they are.
Co-founded by Katherine Hudson and Scott Williams, Wear It Purple began as a grassroots movement to show LGBTQIA+SB young people that there was hope, that they were not alone, and that there were people who would stand beside them.
What began as a simple act of visibility has grown into a national movement.
How We’ve Grown
2010: Wear It Purple is founded by Katherine Hudson and Scott Williams.
2011: The first Wear It Purple Day is celebrated, with schools and communities beginning to take part across Australia.
2015: Wear It Purple expands its resources and support for schools, workplaces, universities and community organisations.
2020: Wear It Purple celebrates 10 years of impact, reflection and community.
2023: New grants, youth opportunities and creative programs are launched to support LGBTQIA+SB young people and their communities.
Today: Thousands of schools, workplaces, community groups and individuals take part in Wear It Purple Day each year, helping create safer and more inclusive environments for LGBTQIA+SB young people across Australia.
Why Wear It Purple Still Matters
While progress has been made, many LGBTQIA+SB young people still experience bullying, discrimination, exclusion and isolation.
Too many young people continue to feel unsafe at school, unsupported at home or invisible in their communities. Representation, belonging and connection remain as important as ever.
Wear It Purple continues to exist because every young person deserves to feel safe, celebrated and empowered at school, at home, at work and in their community.
We believe that when young people are supported to be themselves, they can thrive.
What We Do Today
Today, Wear It Purple supports LGBTQIA+SB young people through:
Wear It Purple Day celebrations across Australia
Resources and support for schools, families, workplaces and communities
Grants, opportunities and programs for young people
Advocacy, visibility and awareness
Partnerships that help create safer and more inclusive environments
We are guided by the belief that young people are powerful changemakers and should be at the centre of creating the future they want to see.
Our Impact Today
What started as a small movement has grown into a national community of support.
Each year:
Thousands of schools, workplaces and organisations take part in Wear It Purple Day
LGBTQIA+SB young people access resources, opportunities and support
Grants and programs help young people, artists and communities bring their ideas to life
Communities across Australia come together to celebrate inclusion, diversity and pride
Every action, whether it is wearing purple, hosting an event, sharing a resource or making a donation, helps create a world where LGBTQIA+SB young people know they belong.
