Launched in June 2015, the PurpleMySchool campaign is quickly making an impact on the lives of young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) students across the Asia-Pacific region.
The campaign, which is a joint initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ‘Being LGBTI in Asia’, encourages peers, teachers and parents to become allies of LGBTI students to ensure educational settings are free from bullying and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Supporters are encouraged to wear, draw or make something purple and submit photos to the campaign website or share on social media using the hashtag #PurpleMySchool.
The campaign is an outcome of the Asia-Pacific Consultation on School Bullying on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression organized by UNESCO and UNDP in Bangkok on 15–17 June 2015, and supports ongoing efforts to address bullying in schools across the region.