Students sport pink in solidarity against bullying...

With the words ‘We Appreciate You’ written in large letters on Bristol board, Mairaj Hydary held the sign high above his head during an assembly at York Memorial Collegiate Institute celebrating International Day of Pink.

The event, held Wednesday, April 10 at the Keele Street and Eglinton Avenue school, recognized solidarity against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered-based (LGBT) discrimination.

With pink balloons and a large anti-bullying banner decorating the gymnasium, many students wore pink T-shirts in support of the day, which also saw them partner with Toronto police to voice a strong message discrimination and bullying should not be tolerated.

“I made the sign for fun to boost morale before I knew this was happening today, then I decided to bring it here to emphasize the anti-bullying message,” Hydary said. “Being a teenager, we’ve all been bullied at one point in our lives. It’s an on-going cycle. Trying to avoid that is hard to do.”

The Grade 12 student said assemblies like the one held Wednesday are important to let students know bullying is not an accepted form of behaviour.

“We need to be reminded these things happen,” he said.

Officers from 12 Division and across the city, including Chief Bill Blair, came out to show support for International Day of Pink and launched a new anti-bullying video featuring both civilian and uniform members from the LGBT community discussing their personal bullying experiences.

Const. Gail Steed, co-chair of Toronto Police Service’s LGBT Internal Support Network, said she hopes to take the video to schools across the city.

“Bullying needs to stop,” she said. “We can’t be quiet bystanders anymore. As police officers, we are role models and we want to end this type of discrimination. We need to stop bullying now.”

Jaeybee Martinito, student council vice-president, said the school has a strong Queer Straight Alliance club and has celebrated International Day of Pink for four years.

“Bullying is a problem in many schools,” she said. “A lot of teenagers experience different types of bullying. Teenagers can be scared to tell a trusted adult because they don’t want to be seen as a snitch. Our school has a really warm atmosphere and I don’t sense bullying here.”

The Grade 12 student, herself a bullying victim, said most people experience it at some point in their lives.

“It made me stronger,” she said. “It’s so cliche, but it has made a big impact on my life. We’re here to tell people it’s not OK.”

Officers handed out pink lollipops and students sold pink T-shirts for $5 with the words ‘I Celebrate Diversity, Day of Pink’ on the front and ‘Stop. Bullying. Now’ om the back.

School principal Suzana Greenaway said York Memorial has a long history of showing support for diversity. The Rainbow Club, now QSA, was formed in 2005 at the request of students, and the school annually recognizes days highlighting bullying and violence against women, along with holding cyber bullying presentations and an LGBT workshop for staff.

“We show support by wearing pink,” she said. “Together we can make a difference.”

Blair, who sported pink under his suit jacket, said the video put together by his officers has enabled police to do a better job serving the city.

“We all need to stand up and say stop bullying now,” he said. “We will not be bystanders and stand by while those who are vulnerable are victimized.”

International Day of Pink began in Halifax, Nova Scotia when a gay student was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. Two straight students intervened and decided to buy pink shirts and convinced other students to do the same, standing in solidarity with their fellow peer. - York Guardian