April 9 2014 Pink Day Stop bullying

Hi it's your girl JA Nursing hope all is well.

I wanted to  blog about today because I think it's an important day to realize your strengths as an individual in being able to accept  people for who they are and their choices. Coming from a West Indian family were our believe system ran very biblical, I once found myself questioning things like a persons sexuality and a persons behavior. (I no longer) Growing up in the 80's the biggest school issue was the color of your skin. Growing up being the darkest child in both my family and school it's was quite bothersome names like "tar baby" "blacky" we're very harmful  words. 

At one point I was tempted to "bleach" a term used for lightening your skin. I struggled with self esteem issues and being teased or as we have given a name to it as being bullyied. 

As a healthcare advocate I see  all aspects of your health as being important, bullying plays a large role on ones mental health and I'm very pleased  to see how far things have come. 

Currently society has changed to accept all aspects of ones being. Times have changed from issues such as the color of your skin and your gender to  more personal issue of choice about ones being all past prejudices and discriminations have paved the way for an equality towards all characters and choices that one May make.

Even though we must admit that theses oprehensions  that people still have will at this time have to be a silent ignorance that will no longer be tolerated in public or out loud. 

Today marks a day that has brought forth the understanding that we will not tolerate any form of bullying for any reason. This acknowledgement has been publicly accepted by  even some reggae artists  as well as has the lack of acknowledgment  has caused big contention for even our mayor with his homophobic remarks and his refusal to attend pride day.

What is the Day of Pink?

On April 9, staff and students from across the Toronto District School Board will be wearing pink to mark International Day of Pink.  This is a day of action, created when a youth in a high school in Cambridge, Nova Scotia was bullied because he wore a pink shirt to school. His fellow students decided to stand up to bullying; and hundreds of students came to school wearing pink to show support for diversity and stopping discrimination, gender-based bullying, homophobia and transphobia.

In 2012, the Ontario government passed  historic anti-bullying legislation,but the issue of bullying, and its traumatic consequences, remains a daily concern in the lives of too many people. The impact is often most targeted and most severe for LGBTQ youth (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning).

April 9th, 2014 marks the International Day of Pink. It is a day where communities across the country, and across the world, can unite in celebrating diversity and raising awareness to stop homophobic, transphobic & all forms of bullying. 

Have you ever seen a friend hurt because of discrimination? Have you been hurt yourself? Discrimination comes in many forms including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, agism and anti-semitism just to name a few. These social diseases create barriers, bullying, harassment, hate and violence. No one should have to experience the negativity created by discrimination. Day of Pink is more than just a symbol of a shared belief in celebrating diversity - it's also a commitment to being open minded, accepting differences and learning to respect each other.

LGBTQ is a short form or acronym that means:

“L”esbian

“G”ay

“B”isexual

“T”ransgender,

“Q”ueer or “Q”uestioning

I hope today and everyday we can learn to except people no matter who they are. Stay connected