Massey University staff celebrated Pink Shirt Day on Friday, with members from the three campuses entering photos in a Best Pink Shirt Day competition.
The University sponsored activities, including stalls on the campuses with Pink Shirt Day information and activities that encouraged people to share their commitment to standing against bullying.
Pink Shirt Day began in Canada in 2007 when students David Shepherd and Travis Price took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed and threatened for wearing pink. It has been marked in New Zealand since 2009 and at Massey since 2015.
The Tertiary Education Union and Women@Massey worked with People and Culture to host the stalls and manage the competition. A winner from each campus was selected, along with one prize for the best manager in pink.
Pay, Employment and Equity Implementation group member and co-convenor of Women@Massey Dr Cat Pausé says the support of the University and its staff is pleasing. “It’s excellent to see Massey committed to providing a positive working environment for all its staff, and we can see this in the Pay and Equity committee’s continued resourcing of activities such as Rainbow Tick and Pink Shirt Day.”
It was also International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) and the Pink Shirt Day festivities recognised that both days are aligned with commitments to making Massey a safe place to work, study and play. Research shows lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and other sexuality and gender diverse identities (LGBTQIA+) people experience higher levels of bullying.