This February, Harmeny marked Purple Friday: a day of learning, reflection, and celebration, as part of our ongoing work to strengthen LGBTQIA+ inclusion across the organisation.
Lighting up Harmeny in purple to stand in solidarity and celebrate belonging
Purple Friday takes place on the last Friday of LGBT History Month and offers organisations, schools, and communities a visible way to show solidarity with LGBTQIA+ people and promote environments where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to belong. The day also provides an opportunity to reflect on how inclusion and acceptance are lived out in everyday practice.
A day for everyone
Purple Friday takes place on the last Friday of LGBT History Month and offers organisations, schools, and communities a visible way to show solidarity with LGBTQIA+ people and promote environments where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to belong. The day also provides an opportunity to reflect on how inclusion and acceptance are lived out in everyday practice.
One of the highlights of the day was a vibrant Roller Disco in our community room, inspired by the artwork and activism of Keith Haring. Through colour, movement, and creativity, young people not only celebrated together but also learned about Haring’s legacy and his support for LGBTQ+ visibility.
This learning extended into the classroom, where pupils took part in art activities inspired by Haring’s distinctive style, using the Purple Friday resource pack shared by LGBT Youth Scotland.
A space to pause and reflect
We also created a self-guided pop-up space for adults, open from Friday through to the following Tuesday. This calm and flexible environment offered colleagues the opportunity to pause and reflect, explore a series of posters about inclusion, take part in a short myth-busting challenge, and consider how we can each contribute to a culture where every member of the Harmeny community can thrive.
Building on our ongoing commitment
This celebration builds on our wider commitment to LGBTQIA+ inclusion at Harmeny, as outlined in our earlier article the subject, where we set out our aspirations to work with LGBT Youth Scotland’s LGBT Charter and embed inclusive practice throughout the organisation.
Thank you to everyone who joined in through reflection, participation, or simply by showing your support. Days like Purple Friday remind us that inclusion grows through shared learning, everyday actions, and collective care, and that Harmeny continues to be a place where everyone can be themselves and reach their potential.
