This Friday we celebrate Wear It Purple Day – an annual event that champions LGBTQIA+ young people. The theme for this year, “Bold Voices, Bright Futures,” is a powerful call to action for all of us in the professional and entrepreneurial spheres. It’s a reminder that the young people we’re supporting today are the future of our business community, and their ability to thrive is directly linked to our collective success.
The link between a supportive, visible community and professional success is undeniable. As is what our role is in fostering this environment in our local spheres of influence.
Everyone is welcome at the PBA! Check out our upcoming events.
When LGBTQIA+ young people see leaders in business, politics, and society openly succeeding, it challenges stereotypes and provides a roadmap for what is possible. It instills a belief that they too can achieve their professional dreams without having to hide who they are.
Research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare highlights that LGBTQIA+ adults are more likely to experience disrupted educational pathways due to factors like family rejection, discrimination, or financial hardship. These early challenges can create lasting barriers to entering and succeeding in professional careers and business.
READ MORE: Warm Connections and Huge Lucky Door Wins at Fruits Sydney August 2025
When adult learners are supported to retrain and reskill, they model resilience and ambition for younger generations. The PBA supports this through the PBA Education Fund, which provides grants and scholarships to LGBTQIA+ individuals pursuing further education. By helping to remove financial barriers to learning, we empower individuals to gain the skills needed to re-enter the workforce, change careers, or start a new business.
This commitment to lifelong learning within our community demonstrates to LGBTQIA+ youth that the path to a “bright future” is a continuous journey of growth and opportunity.
PBA Engagement Director Immy Abdullah and PBA President Jarrod Lomas celebrating Wear It Purple Day 2025.
The benefits of creating truly inclusive workplaces go far beyond individual well-being; they are a clear business imperative.
Research from the Diversity Council of Australia’s Inclusion@Work Index shows that inclusive workplaces are 11 times more likely to be highly effective and 10 times more likely to be innovative than their non-inclusive counterparts. This isn’t just about a feel-good culture; it’s about a competitive advantage. When employees feel a sense of belonging, they are more engaged, more productive, and more likely to contribute to the company’s long-term success.
Unfortunately, a great deal of work still needs to be done.
Recent data from the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) reveals a concerning trend: LGBTQIA+ employees are less likely to be ‘out’ at work in 2025 than they were in 2022. The number of people openly identifying as LGBTQIA+ in the workplace has decreased by 12.9% over four years, a stark statistic reflecting growing concerns about safety and acceptance.
This decline indicates that despite advances in diversity and inclusion initiatives, many still feel compelled to conceal a fundamental part of their identity to navigate their professional lives.
This fear of being authentically themselves stifles creativity, prevents genuine connection, and limits the potential for individuals and the organizations they work for. It represents a significant loss of human capital and innovative potential.
At the PBA NSW, we believe that reversing this trend is a community effort.
We create vital spaces where genuine connections can be made through a diverse range of events. Our flagship Fruits Sydney & Fruits Parramatta events, as well as the intimate Long Table Breakfasts and our casual PBA Walks and Lemons gatherings, are more than just a place to exchange business cards; they are a place to find a community, share experiences, and see yourself reflected in the success of others.
We provide platforms for our members to share their stories of professional and entrepreneurial success. When a young, aspiring entrepreneur meets a successful, openly LGBTQIA+ business owner at one of our events, it sends a powerful message: their identity is not a barrier but a source of strength.
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The celebration of LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurship is at the heart of Buy Rainbow.
The annual LGBTQIA+ small business fair being held this October shines a spotlight on the incredible array of LGBTQIA+ owned and operated businesses in our community, encouraging everyone to actively support them.
By showcasing these businesses, we not only celebrate their achievements but also demonstrate to LGBTQIA+ youth that a “bright future” is within reach. We know that these visible examples of success can be a powerful antidote to the feeling of being unseen or unheard. This visibility provides a tangible vision of what is possible, inspiring the next generation to pursue their ambitions with courage and conviction.
Our community’s success stories serve as a beacon, guiding others through the challenges and celebrating their triumphs along the way.
READ MORE: Buy Rainbow 2025: Be Part of Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ Small Business Fair
On this Wear It Purple Day, let’s go beyond a simple gesture. It’s more than a celebration of colour.
It is a call to leadership that urges businesses, professionals, and communities to create environments where bold voices are heard and bright futures are possible.
Wear It Purple Day 2025
In the world of entrepreneurship and professional life, where innovation thrives on diversity and authenticity, this message is especially powerful. By standing visibly with LGBTQIA+ youth, we do more than send a signal of support. We help build the inclusive ecosystems that will empower the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals.
Everyone is welcome at the PBA! Check out our upcoming events.
Our role at the PBA is to build the network and community, and create the visibility that will empower today’s LGBTQIA+ youth to become the bold leaders and successful professionals of tomorrow.
PBA Board Associate Jessica Bouyamourn celebrated Wear It Purple Day 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City!
On Friday 29 August, let us all wear purple with purpose. Let us commit to building futures where every LGBTQIA+ person can thrive, boldly, authentically, and with pride.
To learn more about Wear It Purple and to donate click here: wearitpurple.org
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Well said Jarrod!
There’s still so much as a community we have to do. Kind words. See you at Fruits
Did I see you celebrate a birthday on the weekend? Happy Birthday!