What We’re Doing REST IN PEACE: Wear Purple Day

October 20, 2010

We are wearing purple in

memory of the recent gay Carl Walker-Hoover

suicides. Many of them suffered Jaheem Herrera

from homophobic abuse in their
Justin Aaberg
schools or in their homes. We

want to take a stand to say that Seth Walsh

we will not tolerate this. Purple Asher Brown

represents Spirit on the LGBTQ
Tyler Clementi
flag and regardless of your

orientation that’s exactly what Billy Lucas

we’d like all of you to have with Raymond Chase

you: spirit. Take a stand to
Zach Harrington
bullying you see ANYWHERE:

home, the workplace, in class, and all other victims of

the dorms, around your friends, homophobia…
This pamphlet was
etc. created by Purdue
Calumet University Brought to you by the PUC
LGBTS Alliance. LBGTS Alliance

The Statistics
 A survey of 7,261 middle and
high school students found
that at school nearly 9 out of
10 lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgendered, and
questioning (LGBTQ) students
So What Can I Do?
experienced harassment at
school in the past year and
nearly two-thirds felt unsafe
because of their sexual
orientation. Nearly a third of
LGBTQ students skipped at
least one day of school in the
past month because of safety
concerns (National School
Climate Survey, 2009)
 LGBTQ youth are up to four
times more likely to attempt
suicide than their heterosexual
peers (Massachusetts 2006
Youth Risk Survey, 2006).
 Adolescence who were
rejected by their families for
being LGBTQ were 8.4 times
more likely to report having
attempted suicide (Family
Rejection as a Predictor of
Negative Health Outcomes,
2009).
 Wear a piece of purple
ribbon, a purple shirt with
your own design painted on
it. Be creative and wear it
on Wednesday, October 20.
 Stand up to bullies if you
see someone else being
bullied.
 Point out that phrases like
“That’s so gay”, or words
like “faggot”, “dyke”, or
“lesbo” are offensive and
that words really do hurt
 You can start a Gay-
Straight Alliance at your
school. If you have one,
attend a meeting and find
out how you can help
make your school a safer
and friendlier place
 You can contact your
state and US
congressmen to vote for
the Safe Schools
Improvement Act (SSIA).
 Support Ally Week,
October 18-22 and visit
www.allyweek.org to
learn how you can be a
visible Ally to LGBTQ
students
 To help stop anti-LGBT
bullying, visit
www.glsen.org/bullying
If you or someone you know is facing
this type of bullying or having
thoughts of suicide, you can contact:
www.thetrevorproject.org
866-4-U-TREVOR
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)