LGBT activists boycott #DayOfPink over Laureen Harper's involvement
School boards, police departments and politicians were among the people who made #DayOfPink a nationwide trending topic today, but some LGBT activists said they would boycott the campaign due to the involvement of Laureen Harper.
The campaign first started in Nova Scotia where a group of high school students organized a protest to support a Grade 9 student bullied for wearing a pink shirt.
It’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dayofpink?src=hash">#dayofpink</a> Please remember that a pink shirt doest stop bullying, YOU DO
—@dayofpink(Another campaign claiming the same origin, Pink Shirt Day, is marked on Feb. 25.)
Police departments got into the campaign in a big way. Some went with the traditional pink shirt.
Chief <a href="https://twitter.com/WayneKalinski">@WayneKalinski</a> and PC <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottCDavis">@ScottCDavis</a> celebrating <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DayOfPink?src=hash">#DayOfPink</a> Bullying has NO place in our community! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeAStand?src=hash">#TakeAStand</a> <a href="http://t.co/pJjkeoAqmh">pic.twitter.com/pJjkeoAqmh</a>
—@OrangevillePSToronto police officer Luke Watson took it a step further, dying his hair pink for the occasion.
Getting ready <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DayofPink?src=hash">#DayofPink</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stopbullyingnow?src=hash">#stopbullyingnow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PinkHair?src=hash">#PinkHair</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/pc8430">@pc8430</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TorontoPolice">@TorontoPolice</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FHCIDayofPink?src=hash">#FHCIDayofPink</a> <a href="http://t.co/4XRe2i0dy4">pic.twitter.com/4XRe2i0dy4</a>
—@RyanCP23Look who I found at Forrest Hill Collegiate!! The amazing <a href="https://twitter.com/pc8430">@pc8430</a> Lovin' the hair..<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FHCDayOfPink?src=hash">#FHCDayOfPink</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PinkHair?src=hash">#PinkHair</a> <a href="http://t.co/IV80G7jLLB">pic.twitter.com/IV80G7jLLB</a>
—@thecoffeecopThe Day of Pink is marked in many school boards across Canada. Greg Pearson is a vice principal in Ontario's Peel District School Board.
Here's what my kids are wearing to school. Lots of discussion with them around inclusion 24/7/365! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dayofpink?src=hash">#dayofpink</a> <a href="http://t.co/UCIw4iqz6h">pic.twitter.com/UCIw4iqz6h</a>
—@vptechnodorkThe Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity is one of the organizations behind Day of Pink. They posted this shot from Ottawa.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dayofpink?src=hash">#dayofpink</a> in action <a href="https://twitter.com/OCDSB">@OCDSB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OCDSB_Students">@OCDSB_Students</a> <a href="http://t.co/6xoqnXdRZc">pic.twitter.com/6xoqnXdRZc</a>
—@CCGSD_CCDGSActor and self-described "irritating guy from Stargate Atlantis" David Hewlett donned a pink bandana.
Son concerned I would look like a anti-anti-bully supporter without it, so...<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dayofpink?src=hash">#dayofpink</a> <a href="http://t.co/SFU3Tui7SG">pic.twitter.com/SFU3Tui7SG</a>
—@dhewlettOne of the most retweeted photos on the #DayOfPink hashtag came from the Washington Capitals' Eric Fehr.
Today is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DayOfPink?src=hash">#DayOfPink</a>! Be kind, share a cupcake! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StopBullying?src=hash">#StopBullying</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Respect?src=hash">#Respect</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Caring?src=hash">#Caring</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Friendship?src=hash">#Friendship</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Healthy?src=hash">#Healthy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kindness?src=hash">#Kindness</a> <a href="http://t.co/2WbXddzJFk">pic.twitter.com/2WbXddzJFk</a>
—@EricFehrSome politicians got into the spirit of the day, including the American ambassador to Canada.
Heading to the embassy wearing my pink tie today to stand up for inclusiveness & against discrimination! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DayofPink?src=hash">#DayofPink</a> <a href="http://t.co/cRuHTi4yUR">pic.twitter.com/cRuHTi4yUR</a>
—@BruceAHeymanToronto Mayor John Tory also tweeted about it.
Proud supporter of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DayofPink?src=hash">#DayofPink</a> - Let's celebrate diversity and build an inclusive <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Toronto?src=hash">#Toronto</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StopBullying?src=hash">#StopBullying</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TOpoli?src=hash">#TOpoli</a> <a href="http://t.co/vwBgiIGT6L">pic.twitter.com/vwBgiIGT6L</a>
—@JohnToryHowever, it was the choice of another political figure, Laureen Harper, as the face of Day of Pink that has led some LGBT activists to boycott the campaign.
Harper wrote an open letter posted on the website of the Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity about why she would be wearing pink Wednesday.
For some activists, choosing the wife of Canada's prime minister was a mistake that undermined the message of the Day of Pink.
. <a href="https://twitter.com/LaureenHarper">@LaureenHarper</a> is the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dayofpink?src=hash">#dayofpink</a> ambassador, while her husband's gov't uses the Senate to kill <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/C279?src=hash">#C279</a> and promote transphobia <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pinkwashing?src=hash">#pinkwashing</a>
—@ArielTrosterQueer activist Ariel Troster expanded on this tweet in a post on Storify. She pointed to a Conservative senator's amendment of Bill C-279, the transgender rights bill, as one reason for her boycott.
"Conservative Senator Don Plett was responsible for inserting a poison pill into long-awaited trans human rights legislation," Troster wrote.
Choosing Laureen Harper (wife of PM Harper) to be the face of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DayofPink?src=hash">#DayofPink</a> was a HUGE misstep. Our govt is legit harmful to trans people.
—@middle_ladleSome people had reservations about Harper's role in the campaign, but said they would observe it nonetheless.
<a href="https://twitter.com/ArielTroster">@ArielTroster</a> I agree with you, but as a teacher, I'm still going to wear pink. Can't risk students not feeling supported.
—@HungryHamOnt.<a href="https://twitter.com/CCGSD_CCDGS">@CCGSD_CCDGS</a> I'm troubled about Ms Harper's role in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DayofPink?src=hash">#DayofPink</a>, but I will celebrate the day with my students. This can be hashed out L8er.
—@GordonNore(Note: The CBC is a sponsor of the Day of Pink campaign.)