Day of Pink fights bullying, discrimination, homophobia

Over 750 students attended the 8th annual International Day of Pink at MohawkCollege to celebrate and create awareness for diversity.

"It's really about creating awareness to the variety of things that marginalize us andcelebrating those things.

"It's important to celebratethe fact that everyone is different.- student volunteer,HayleyMcCombs

"It's important to realize it's a much bigger picture," said MarcoFelvus, coordinator of Mohawk's event.

International Day of Pink calls on Canadians to wear pink to school, work, and out in their communities to raise awareness about bullying, discrimination, homophobia,transphobia,andtransmisogynyacross the world.

Appreciating diversity

"It's an international appreciation of social diversity.It makes everyone realize that there are people that care about celebrating what itis to be you," said student volunteer, Hayley McCombs.

"It's important to celebratethe fact that everyone is different."

The first time student volunteer at the event said she is happy to stand behind a day like today. "It makes you feel good to do something good."

In 2007, on April 9, two older students at a Nova Scotia high school stood up for a ninth grade boy who was being bullied for wearing pink on the first day of school. The Grade 12 students decided to wear pink in support and the movement spread across Canada.

In Hamilton students at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School are among those wearing pink on Wednesday. Members of the school's Gay Straight Alliance will be joined by members of the Hamilton Police Service and community leaders at 11:30 a.m. to speak out.

Also at Mohawk College, students there promise "a positive space on campus, where human rights are respected" as they celebrated International Day of Pink with a barbecue between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m Wednesday.

Last year CBC Hamilton asked students from Orchard Park Secondary School in Stoney Creek to think about a moment when they felt bullied and explain what happened or express how it felt. Their answers are in the photo gallery above.

• Pink Day: The true face of bullying in Hamilton

Their responses are poignant, brave, and in some cases, tough to read. All of the students were eager to express their stories and participate.

Not every answer ended up in the gallery. One response from a young woman that said "Being called a dumb slut for expressing my opinion" was nixed by her parents after they were called by the school board as was a response from a 16-year-old that simply read "Being called a whore."

The board made calls to parents after expressing concerns over the nature of some of their student's responses.