The Significance of Purple

Every last Friday in August, the RMIT community wears purple to show unity and support for LGBTQIA+. The colour purple holds a special meaning for all of us.

Inclusion is one of six core values of RMIT. On the last Friday in August each year, the RMIT community across Vietnam and Australia choose to wear purple to show our commitment towards an accessible and inclusive environment for everyone feel safe and thriving.

Hi there! I am Trung, a final year student of the Bachelor of Business. In this article, I will tell you the meaning of purple to myself and my peers at RMIT.

What does purple represent? It can be the colour of tranquillity, luxury, power, imagination, and more, depending on each of you. To my RMIT community, purple represents unity. Wear It Purple Day, celebrated annually since 2010, began in Australia as a way to empower the LGBTIQA+ youth community to show their pride and enthusiasm. K Katherine Hudson, one of the founders of Wear It Purple Day, once said she “saw purple as a way of bringing people together from all different backgrounds and creating one thing…a symbol of unity...”

What started as a small initiative has grown into an international movement, offering RMIT an opportunity to show support for LGBTQIA+ community.

We proudly support Wear It Purple Day.

On Wear It Purple Day, RMIT encourages individuals to show support and solidarity for LGBTQIA+ youth by wearing purple. Everyone’s participation helps to promote a message of inclusivity and acceptance for the university community.

Personally, I am always excited to participate in Wear It Purple Day. The concept is simple yet profoundly meaningful. It is remarkable how everyone gets together and uses one colour to express our support, inclusivity, and unity. It is warm-hearted. It is uplifting. It has always been inspiring to see our RMIT community come together.

Last year, I rocked a purple T-shirt with a matching bandana. This year, I am planning a purple flannel shirt and purple socks. I will be around the campus seeing everyone’s purple choices for inspiration for my next year’s outfit.

Mark your calendar: Wear It Purple Day, Friday 30 August 2024. Dress yourself purple however you like. Put on your scarves, shirts, pants, or anything you have. I'm more than excited to be a part of a purple community, where everyone is supportive of an inclusive environment!

This article is written by Thanh Trung Dong, a Bachelor of Business student at RMIT Vietnam, and does not reflect the views of RMIT University.

29 August 2024

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The Significance of Purple