Why EASA Will Wear It Purple!

Wear It Purple Day strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people.

At EASA, equipping professionals and organisations to best support their teams is what we do, and acknowledging and fostering support for our rainbow young people is a vital part of this process.

Let's delve into how you and your team members and workplaces can contribute to understanding the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, religion, and LGBTQIA+ identities. Wear It Purple suggests the following key points to begin your exploration:

1. Education & Awareness: Encourage ongoing education about diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality. Adults can attend workshops, read literature, and engage in conversations to broaden their understanding. You can also try exploring online resources such as TED Talks, podcasts, articles and the Wear It Purple website. Platforms like these offer a wealth of content on these topics. You could even invite external speakers or use internal resources to facilitate sessions.
2. Promoting Inclusivity: In the workplace, adults can actively promote inclusivity by advocating for diverse hiring practices, creating safe spaces, and ensuring that policies and practices consider the needs of all employees. If you are a leader, ensure support for Wear It Purple initiatives. Your commitment sets the tone for the entire organisation.
3. Amplifying Voices: Use your position to amplify the voices of marginalised groups. Highlight their experiences, challenges, and achievements. This can be done through mentorship, sharing stories, or organising events.
4. Challenging Bias: You can challenge stereotypes and biases when you encounter them. Whether it is in meetings, casual conversations, or decision-making processes, standing up against discrimination is crucial.
5. Intersectional Policies: Advocate for policies that address the unique challenges faced by individuals at the intersections of race, ethnicity, religion, and LGBTQIA+ identities. This might involve parental leave policies, mental health support, or cultural competency training.

Remember, fostering an inclusive work environment benefits everyone and contributes to a more equitable society.