Every year, Wear It Purple Day (this year 29 August 2025) reminds us of the power of visibility, inclusion, and storytelling. It’s a day to celebrate LGBTQIA+ youth, amplify their voices, and commit to creating safe spaces where they can thrive. This year’s theme, “Bold Voices, Bright Futures,” resonates deeply with our mission at the Telstra Foundation – to support young people in shaping a future where they are safe, empowered, and heard.
Listening to Queer Youth, Loud and Clear
In partnership with MINUS18, we proudly supported the Queer Youth Now survey, a landmark initiative capturing the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ youth across Australia. The findings are both sobering and galvanising:
- 79% of LGBTQIA+ young people aren’t out to everyone at work
- 57% faced anti-LGBTQIA+ hate in the past year
These statistics underscore the urgent need for inclusive action. Through our partnership, we’re helping MINUS18 to close the data gap and elevate the voices of queer young people – giving them the tools to shape the narrative about their own lives.
What the Data Tells Us
The survey also revealed that only 1 in 3 LGBTQIA+ young people feel safe being out to everyone at school, and just 1 in 10 feel safe being out to all in sport settings. These figures highlight just some of the everyday challenges queer youth face navigating the world around them.
Celebrating Identity, Unity and Solidarity
For Alvi Ahmed (Queer Youth Now Project Lead, MINUS18), Wear It Purple Day is a powerful reminder of the importance of visibility and allyship:
“Wear It Purple Day is about visibility – but it’s also about listening. Through the Queer Youth Now survey, we heard directly from thousands of LGBTQIA+ young people about what they’re facing and what they need. That data gives us the power to advocate, to educate, and to create real change. When we wear purple, we’re not just showing support – we’re standing up with evidence and empathy.”
This year, Telstra Foundation is proud to back this incredibly important effort, helping MINUS18 to deliver a program that fosters inclusion and belonging.
How You Can Be a Change Maker
Whether you’re wearing purple, attending a panel, or volunteering your time, there are many ways to show your support:
- Find out how to celebrate at school or work
- Share your purple pride in team meetings, at school, on social media
- Explore resources from Wear It Purple and MINUS18 to educate and inspire
Changing the Story, Changing Lives
Wear It Purple Day began as a grassroots movement to combat the isolation and discrimination faced by LGBTQIA+ youth. Today, it’s a national celebration of diversity and a call to action. At Telstra Foundation, we believe that when young people are given the space to write their own stories, they create futures filled with possibility.
Let’s keep listening. Let’s keep supporting. Let’s keep wearing purple.
