Description

On this day our Commonwealth sister nation Canada observes Spirit Day. Started in 2010 by then-teenager Brittany McMillan, the day’s purpose is to raise awareness about the high rates of suicide among LGBTQI+ youth, rates that are nearly five times higher than those among heterosexual youth.

According to a 2010 study published in the American Journal of Public Health, each episode of LGBTQI+ victimization, such as physical or verbal harassment or abuse, increases the likelihood of self-harming behaviour by 2.5 times on average.

We post the image of this baton, confiscated during WWII from an internee at Loveday Internment Camp, as a reminder of the soul-crushing effects bullying, harassment and exclusion have on the LGBTQI+ community.

#QueeringTheMuseum #QTM #SpiritDay #bullying