April 1 2026

The International Day of Pink is observed annually during the second week of April. It began in Nova Scotia in 2007, when two Grade 12 students, David Shepherd and Travis Price, witnessed homophobic bullying and harassment against a Grade 9 student, all because he was wearing the colour pink. In a show of solidarity, they encouraged their fellow students to wear pink to school the following day. The day has since grown into an international event that encourages millions to wear pink and stand up against bullying, discrimination, and hate.

This year, the International Day of Pink falls on April 8. The theme of this year’s event is “Echo” which calls us to tune in to the voices of queer and trans communities, past and present. This call to action is particularly relevant in today’s political climate.

In Alberta, in addition to the laws attacking the rights of transgender and gender-diverse youth and athletes, the government has ordered schools to remove at least 160 titles from school and classroom libraries. Many of the titles removed explore 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences and were written to give youth information on 2SLGBTQIA+ people and culture in age-appropriate ways. It’s not a coincidence that anti-2SLGBTQIA+ organizations were the ones that lobbied for the book ban.

Education and critical thinking are crucial elements for democracy to thrive. Conversely, book bans aim to suppress knowledge and erode empathy and understanding of diverse perspectives and identities. Banning books and preventing the spread of information has been a core tenant of fascist governments throughout history.

On this International Day of Pink, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) encourages members to wear pink. But we encourage members who are able to go a step further. Take the time to learn about the Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium v. Canada Supreme Court decision and the Calgary Public School Board’s 1997 ban on books that “promoted homosexuality.” Get free tickets to Day of Pink’s Echo Tour: Voices That Still Resonate. Members in Alberta can also take on any of the actions listed in this student-written article.