Non-Binary Scout Harley Creates Safe Haven For LGBTQIA+ Youth This Wear It Purple Day
Wear It Purple Day, celebrated on the last Friday of August, is an annual event that encourages people to wear purple to show support for LGBTQIA+ youth. It’s a day to promote inclusivity, respect, and creating safe spaces for young people to be themselves.
Scout Harley joined Scouts NSW at 19. They knew they were non-binary but fear kept them from sharing their truth.
“I would often sit in meetings, cringing every time someone used my deadname,” Harley says. “I was unable to voice my discomfort out of fear of what the reaction would be.”
Things changed when Harley met another queer Scout organising the Mardi Gras Parade float. It was an eye-opener. There were other LGBTQIA+ Scouts out there.
Harley applied for the float. They didn’t get on, but volunteered for the medical team instead. The more involved they got, the more LGBTQIA+ Scouts they met.
“Meeting the people I have met helped me develop more self-confidence to openly express myself as non-binary,” Harley explains.
In 2023, Harley joined Rover Scouts as their true self. They shared their pronouns – they/them. Their unit struggled at first, but with some education, they now respect Harley’s identity.
One of Harley’s proudest moments was attending Blacktown Rovers’ Queer Formal. The event, open to Scouts aged 14-25, is a safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth, both in and out of the closet.
“The joy I saw on the faces of those in attendance who were able to be themselves without fear of judgement really proved why events like this are important to have in Scouts,” Harley shares.
For Harley, Scouts NSW has allowed them to proudly be themselves. They hope events like Queer Formal will help create a safer space for LGBTQIA+ youth to express themselves and feel accepted in Scouting.
