When I was a teenager, I knew I was different. But in those days, there was no Wear It Purple Day, no rainbow flags in school, no safe spaces. There was only silence, shame, and the fear of being “found out.” I learned quickly to hide  because the words around me weren’t safe — words spoken in church, at home, at school, among my friends. They told me who I was wrong.

Looking back, I wonder how different my life might have been if just one person had looked me in the eye and said, “You’re okay, exactly as you are.” That single phrase could have saved me years of hiding, pretending, and pain.

That’s why Wear It Purple Day matters so much today. For young queer people, every word we speak carries weight. A careless comment can cut like a knife. A cruel joke can echo for years. But words of love, acceptance, and affirmation can literally be life-saving.

So when you wear purple today, let it be more than just a colour. Let it be a promise: that you’ll think before you speak, listen with compassion, and create spaces where young people don’t have to fear being themselves.

Because somewhere right now, a queer teenager is waiting for a sign that they are loved, valued, and belong. Let’s make sure they don’t have to wait too long.

Anthony Venn-Brown OAM

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