Trinity College School students and staff joined peers around the world to take part in Pink Shirt Day, offering a visible sign of their stance against bullying. The Junior School held its event on Tuesday, February 23rd, while the Senior School hosted the day on Friday, February 26th.
Pink Shirt Day emerged out of an incident at a Canadian school when a Grade 9 boy was bullied on his first day of classes for wearing a pink shirt. A group of classmates wanted to show their support and the next day they handed out pink shirts for all the Grade 9 boys to wear, as a sign that bullying is never okay. Today, schools around the globe participate in the annual event.
In the Senior School, the Gender & Sexuality Alliance worked with prefects to encourage everyone to take part in Pink Shirt Day. In an email to students and staff on behalf of the GSA, Grade 10 student Bria Chalovich wrote, “As well as focusing on the problem of bullying, Pink Shirt Day shines a light on the relevant issue of toxic masculinity. It brings to our attention how the gender norms that boys are taught from a young age can have harmful effects on them, which can result in them bullying anyone who does not conform with the societal gender norms.” In addition to asking everyone to wear pink, it was suggested that male students could wear an item of clothing or accessory typically seen as feminine, in order to break down gender stereotypes and show that how each person chooses to present themselves and express their gender identity should be treated with respect.
This year, in light of the pandemic and the increased focus on supporting the mental wellness of young people, the message of Pink Shirt Day was that we all need to “lift each other up.”
