Chelsea's Wear it Purple Journey

It has been such an honor to be a part of Wear It Purple over the past four years. Upon reflection of my time with WIP, I can see that I have grown professionally and have become more confident in myself and my identity within the LGBTQ+ community as a queer POC.

I joined WIP in October of 2018 as I finished up my Year 12 studies. It was shortly after celebrating and organizing my second WIPD at my high school.

I joined WIP and the Youth Action Council (YAC) as an empowered, young, 18-year-old who was ready to make change. After first handedly experiencing the positive impacts of WIPD, I wanted to get on board and do more.

I will never forget the feeling of walking into school on my first WIPD, seeing purple decorations and many staff and students wearing purple. It was a simple yet such an effective way of telling my 17-year-old self that I was accepted. This message meant so much to me, knowing that school was a safe space since at the time I was not fully ‘out’ to all family members due to negative past experiences.

I remember my first YAC meeting and that being my first time around a group of only LGBTQ+ people. It was the first time I met Izzy Calero, current WIP secretary and my fairy gaymother. Little did I know the journey we were about to embark on together with WIP.

We immediately got involved with WIP, with our first speaking event just being a few days after our first YAC meeting. It was with NSWPF in-training GLLO’s (Gay, Lesbian, Liaison Officers) and we shared our stories, along with speaking on the use of inclusive language.

In August of 2019, I embarked on my journey to the U.S to study and play college soccer. This meant that for majority of the year I would be out of the country and not able to attend WIPD or other events. However, this did not stop me from continuing with Wear It Purple. When Covid first hit I spent quite a few months at home in Sydney and was able to do a lot more with WIP. This included speaking events at schools, conferences, community organisations, and to online audiences. I can proudly say that I assisted with the planning of multiple Wear It Purple Days and Mardi Gras along with my fellow WIP team.

In 2020, I stepped into the role of Youth Action Council Executive which also counted as a split board member role with other YAC Exec. To be a board member of a growing organisation at the age of 20 is an accomplishment that I will look back on with pride. I thank my fellow board members for their support and belief in me to act in this role. It has been a privilege to grow with WIP and help achieve its mission, along with being able to act as a voice for queer youth in Australia and beyond.

I am excited to see where Wear It Purple will go in the future and the ways they will empower young rainbow people.

I’ll proudly be wearing my purple every last Friday of August.