The Defence Force is taking part in Pink Shirt Day by offering five young “Pink Shirt Day Heroes” a special day out. The young winners will take part in a parade, learn to fight fires and deal with natural disasters like floods, plus tour the Navy Base in Devonport and the Whenuapai Air Base. It will be part of Pink Shirt Day activities across the country on Friday 22 May, when schools, workplaces and communities around the country will wear pink to show they are against bullying. The initiative is now led by the Mental Health Foundation, with support from InsideOUT, Rainbow Youth and other community groups. It was first picked up in New Zealand youth as a specifically anti-lgbti bullying and awareness movement, but has since become a general anti-bullying campaign. “No one deserves to be bullied,” Mental Health Foundation chief executive Judi Clements says. “Thousands of young people do reach out and ask for help when they’re being bullied, but there are many others who stay quiet because they’re embarrassed, ashamed or fearful and even think it’s their fault. “With Pink Shirt Day, New Zealanders have the opportunity to tell people who are being targeted by bullies that they are not invisible – they are important and valued, and we will all work together to find solutions to the problems they are experiencing.” Details on the Defence Force competition are here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 6th May 2015 - 9:53am