Today, wearing orange primarily honors two important causes:
- In the United States, wearing orange is dedicated to honoring lives affected by gun violence. It originated to commemorate Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed, and symbolizes gun violence awareness and advocacy for change. Orange is the color hunters wear to protect themselves, thus symbolizing protection of life from gun violence.
- In Canada and parts of the U.S., today is also Orange Shirt Day (September 30), a day to honor Indigenous children who were sent to residential schools, many of whom suffered trauma and loss. Wearing orange shirts on this day symbolizes remembrance of Indigenous children, survivors, and families affected by the legacy of residential schools, as well as a commitment to truth, reconciliation, and anti-racism.
So, wearing orange today either stands for gun violence awareness or for Indigenous residential school remembrance and reconciliation, both deeply meaningful social causes. The context depends on the location and the specific observance.
