At the commencement of Macquarie University’s Colour the Campus Challenge, Tahlia White gave a voice to the fears and difficulties trans people face. She is a first year speech pathology student, who intends to use her skills to help trans people with their voices. This is an unedited transcript of her speech.

Hi, my name is Tahlia and I am here to talk about the importance of wear it purple day, what it is and why we celebrate it.

LGBT people experience social stigmas, discrimination and other barriers for being who they are. As a Transgender woman myself, I’ve experienced some of those first hand.

Wear it purple day focuses on LGBT youth and affirming to them that they are loved, cared for and can accomplish their dreams. Its focused on awareness of LGBT youth that are here and also LGBT youth we have sadly lost. While improvements have been made, LGBT people often have higher suicide rates due to these stigmas, discrimination, unsupportive family or friends. Many trans people in particular also experience gender dysphoria, which is when you aren’t being seen as or treated as the gender you identify as. For example, when I was in high school being expected to throw off my shirt in a boys changing room was very traumatic that brought this weight in my chest that just wouldn’t go away till I transitioned.

2022 in particular has been a really scary year for LGBT people. With many LGBT people now planning to come to Australia to avoid 100’s of transphobic legislation and more queerphobic law changes. But attempts have been made to remove LGBT rights that many have fought years for. Australia’s government have tried to pass the religious discrimination bill. Which if passed, would’ve enabled people to bypass discrimination laws to queer people. If it wasn’t shelved, it could become a reality that any organization, shop or job opportunity could refuse to talk to me because I am transgender for example.

While this can paint a bleak picture, a lot has changed for the better. LGBT visibility has increased so much in recent years, gay marriage got legalized in Australia which has allowed more than 20,000 couples to get married. Now  getting hormone treatment for transgender people has become so much easier than it use to be thanks to informed consent. A study was conducted that concluded that gender affirming hormone treatment actually decreases suicide rate by 40% …which is incredible. I don’t know of any medication that can allow so much more people to live happy lives. There are even tv shows and movies telling stories of queer voices, its really wonderful.

When I was 8 I didn’t know what LGBT was, I didn’t know being trans was an option. I thought I was the only person like this. I thought I’d have to deal with the way I was born forever as some kinda punishment and I dreaded that. I wrote in a little spy note book “I wish I was a girl” it was a super secret. Something I could never tell anyone. Something I wished for, imagining things being different. Very obviously to everyone hearing me say this, it didn’t stay a secret. But I definitely felt pressured to hide it.. in high school I was called to the principals office because I asked teachers to refer to me as a girl and got a firm warning to never do it again…. But today, I have been encouraged to talk about that experience into a microphone… Even if that is a small thing, that shows me how much things have changed for the better. What’s happening right now wouldn’t of happened a few years ago.

Wear it purple day is about visibility. Making sure as many LGBT people as possible know that there are people that love them. That they are welcomed and worthy of love. That we are so happy they are still here. This year has been scary for LGBT people so if you have any friends who are LGBT, be sure to check in on them. It could mean the world to them. And of course for LGBT people here right now, whether closeted or not, know that you are loved and I am proud of you and your progress. Even if people try to say otherwise, your identity is valid. You are free to love who you want and also to be who you want.

I hope everyone enjoys this fun run, I think its really wonderful inclusive events highlighting LGBT support and ally ship exist. When I was 8, wearing girls clothes secretly I would never imagine something like this would be possible. So much good has allowed this inclusive event to be possible. So let’s enjoy this moment and see how far we have come, together

More about Macquarie’s Ally Network.