Secondary Pink Day/Diversity Resources

Pink Day started in 2007 when two Nova Scotia high school students decided to create a “Sea of Pink” to support of a grade 9 boy who was called homophobic names when he wore a pink shirt to school. The original day was a huge success with people at their school wearing all kinds of pink clothing, face painting, and even a pink bike! (For the original story click here.)

Pink Day (Feb. 24th) and International Day of Pink (April 13th) remind us that students have the power to make change. Both days are about celebrating diversity and raising awareness to stop homophobia, transphobia and all forms of bullying.

Pink Day Activities:

  • Create a “sea of pink” or organize a “rainbow clothes day.”
  • Show a video at an assembly or in class:
  • Organize an “I’ll hold your hand” action (see the video STAND UP against homophobia )
  • Hand out information on how to be a LGBTTQ+ ally.
  • Ask GSA or leadership students to lead a Pink Day assembly to share the history of Pink Day and the role students can play in challenging homophobia, transphobia and all forms of discrimination (i.e. the role of allies in original Pink Day in Nova Scotia).
  • Organize a rainbow chalk-in (draw chalk rainbows and write Pink Day messages).
  • Organize a flashmob dance or march along city streets near your school.
  • Distribute pink ribbons for students and staff to wear. At the end of day tie the ribbons together and hang them in the front entrance.
  • Write positive messages on colourful post-it notes and put them on bathroom mirrors and doors.
  • Make pink day posters, banners, videos, pins and t-shirts.
  • Create a “tree of kindness” using pink leaf cut-outs for staff and students to write positive and encouraging messages on and attach.
  • Host a parent info session on sexual and gender diversity and/or discrimination and bullying.
  • Ask students to make Pink Day messages on the morning announcements and for the daily bulletin.
  • Have a fundraiser to raise money for a LGBTTQ+ organization.
  • Book a Pridespeak workshop from Gab Youth or Out in Schools presentation.
  • Ask your librarian to display LGBTTQ+ books – secondary LGBTTQ+ books
  • Work with students to create a skit about Pink Day to present in classes and have a discussion afterwards.

Click secondary LGBTTQ+ Secondary-Diversity-Books for fiction and non-fiction books.

Curriculum resources:

  1. The Gender Spectrum: What educators need to know
  2. Think B4YouSpeak Guide for Educators
  3. No Name-Calling Week High School (9-12) Lessons
  4. Unheard Voices: Stories and Lessons for Grades 6-12
  5. LGBT History month resources

For more information contact pride@vsb.bc.ca.