From the Chaplains
Why Wear it Purple should matter to you.
This Friday is Wear it Purple Day. Wear it Purple strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for LGBTIQ+SB young people. This year’s theme is ‘Bold Voices, Bright Futures,’ and I strongly encourage you to show your support. Students are encouraged to wear a purple ribbon either in your hair or on your blazer. Staff are encouraged to wear at least one item of purple clothing.
By Wearing it Purple this Friday we celebrate and affirm the LGBTIQ+SB students and staff among us. In wearing purple, we say to our friends, colleagues and classmates who identify in a diversity of ways:
You are incredible exactly as you are
We respect and affirm your identity
We believe that your whole self was made in the image of God
AND
We affirm that your unique, individual and particular attributes are a gift to our community and to the world beyond.
We also want to let LGBTIQ+SB students know that there are safe places to reach out and seek support here at Pymble.
If you need to talk, please reach out.
Rev. Cass and I are always available, as are the counsellors, and your Compass Teachers. We also encourage you to come along to Pride group each Thursday at lunch time in the Chapel.
It is also our hope that in showing visible support we are making a visible statement to the broader community that Pymble Ladies College is a safe and inclusive place for young people and adults. This matters because, all too often, this is still not the case, particularly in schools, workplaces and within some religious contexts.
As a Uniting Church School, Pymble can proudly stand within a tradition that is trying it’s best to change this narrative. The Uniting Church has been a progressive voice in the inclusion of LGBTIQ+SB people for many years. Today our leadership proudly includes LGBTIQ+SB people in both lay and ordained roles and our National Assembly has empowered our churches to celebrate marriage between two people of the same gender as allowed under Australian law. Here at Pymble we show how much we value our LGBTIQ+SB young people and staff through our Pride group and by lighting a Rainbow Candle in each chapel Service. We have also recently place a new flag in the foyer of the Chapel to reinforce the welcome and sense of belonging that we want our sacred space to embody.
There is always more than we can do, and perhaps by wearing it purple you can make a first step. If have other ideas, please speak to us, and if you hear of spaces at Pymble that are not safe, please speak up or speak to someone else who can.
Together we can use be Bold Voices who create bright futures for LGBTIQ+SB young people.
Rev. Danielle Hemsworth-Smith
College Chaplain
