For the second year running, the Eurobodalla Health service team will turn purple on Friday 25 August 2017 to celebrate same-sex attracted, gender diverse or ‘rainbow’ young people.
Staff at each health facility in Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma will wear a purple outfit or ribbon in a show of support for rainbow young people and to raise awareness of the challenges they face. “Same-sex attracted and gender diverse young people often feel alone, isolated and commonly report experiencing bullying, particularly those living in rural and remote areas. Wear it Purple Day is a way to show rainbow young people that they are not alone,” Gemma Hartmann, Sexual Health Nurse for Eurobodalla Sexual Health Service said. Wear it Purple is a youth-led, non-profit initiative founded by young people and has become an international movement celebrating diversity, raising awareness and empowering young people to make change in their own communities. “Eurobodalla Health Service welcomes same-sex attracted and gender diverse individuals to all of our services,” Lisa Kennedy, General Manager of the Eurobodalla Health Service said. “We embrace Wear it Purple Day to reinforce the message urging the community to reject bullying and harassment based on sexuality or gender identity,” Lisa noted. Wear it Purple want young people everywhere to be proud of who they are and also encourage those who want to show their support to do so by one of more of the following: • Wear purple: show your support • Speak up: let people know why you’re wearing purple • Spread the love: share photos on #wearitpurple so young people everywhere can feel the love • Challenge yourself: think twice about how you perceive the person in front of you and respect them • Don’t settle: if others are disrespectful to, or about, a rainbow young person, don’t let it slide To check out the Wear it Purple website, or to register an event, go to www.wearitpurple.org For more information about Eurobodalla Community Health services including the Eurobodalla Sexual Health Service, contact Gemma Hartmann, Sexual Health Nurse, Eurobodalla Sexual Health Service on 0427 219 874, email at gemma.hartmann@health.nsw.gov.au
