Rather than pretty in pink, pupils and staff at Logan Park High School were staunch in pink yesterday.
For the first time, the Dunedin secondary school participated in Pink Shirt Day to make a stand against bullying in schools.
The event was inspired by two Canadian students who reacted against homophobic bullying after a peer was bullied for wearing a pink shirt in 2007.
Pink Shirt Day has since become an annual event in communities around the globe, and the pupils and staff at Logan Park High School were among thousands across New Zealand who participated.
Logan Park Diversity Group co-founders Finnlay Allerston and Tanya Findlater said they introduced the event this year with the aim of creating schools and communities where all people feel safe, valued and respected, regardless of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability or cultural background.
Finnlay said the event was treated like a school mufti day, where pupils and staff paid a gold coin donation to wear a pink shirt or buy a Pink Shirt Day wrist band.
About $500 was raised and would be given to the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand and the InsideOUT organisation, he said.
"We decided that Logan Park should get involved in Pink Shirt Day because we believe that it sends a strong message of solidarity and support for victims of bullying in schools.
"The day helps spread awareness about the problem of bullying.''
English teacher Lara Liesbeth praised the pupils for their initiative.
"It's really cool that our students at Logan Park have organised a special mufti day to support Pink Shirt Day.
"They are committed to supporting as many students as they possibly can. It's the students that make this school the accepting place it is.''
