Wearing purple has special meaning today

Wearing purple today has special meaning for those seeking to honour the memory of young people who have committed suicide after homophobic bullying.

Leanne Cunningham, positive wellness counsellor at AIDS Vancouver Island, said the movement to wear purple today, Oct. 20, is spreading. She said people of all ages who want to stand up against bullies are donning purple to make a statement and she's hoping many in the community will take part.

"Purple represents spirit in the GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) flag, and that's exactly what we'd like all of you to have with you: spirit," she said.

The recent suicides of several young people in the U.S., including 18-year-old Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi, have made headlines all over the world and have led to a groundswell of opposition - particularly among students - to homophobic bullying. Cunningham said that kind of bullying takes place in Campbell River and she's excited that people want to take a stand.

"Any bullying is unacceptable, but this is dealing with homophobia in particular," Cunningham said.

(source:vancouversun.com)