Millions Unite Against Bullying for Spirit Day

Last Thursday GLAAD showcased participants who wore purple or went purple online for Spirit Day in a stand against bullying and to show support for LGBT youth. Spirit Day began in 2010 in remembrance of several young people who lost their lives to suicide after being bullied. Each year, GLAAD organizes hundreds of celebrities, media outlets, brands, landmarks, sports leagues, faith groups, school districts, colleges and universities to speak out for LGBT youth on Spirit Day.

Millions wear purple on Spirit Day in a united stand against bullying and to show support for LGBT youth. Spirit Day was started in 2010 as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. With GLAAD’s help, Spirit Day has since garnered international support from celebrities, TV news and entertainment programs, corporations, organizations, schools, local communities, and even national landmarks. 

Emmy-nominated actress Laverne Cox joined GLAAD to light the iconic Empire State Building in purple for Spirit Day. Cox was also joined by young people featured in the new documentary “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word."

Other celebrity participants included Mariah Carey, Ellen DeGeneres, Fran Drescher, Ariana Grande, Nick Jonas, Ricky Martin, Debra Messing, and more.

Hosts of NBC’s “Today Show,” as well as dozens of NBC’s local broadcast affiliates across the country wore purple on air for Spirit Day. Other NBC News properties including CNBC, MSNBC, and Univision hosts also donned purple on the air for Spirit Day. Hosts of ABC’s “Good Morning America” and “The View” also wore purple and spoke out in support of Spirit Day on the air.

Viacom participated across the company’s properties, including MTV, MTV2, MTVU, Logo TV, VH1, BET, CMT, Tr3s, Comedy Central, TV Land, and Paramount Pictures. Additional television networks including ABC, ABC Family, CBS, HBO, HLN, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), Syfy, TLC, and USA also participated online and on air.

More than forty members of the United States Congress showed their support for Spirit Day and LGBT youth, and other public officials including Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Santa Fe Mayor Javier M. Gonzales also participated.

Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), National Basketball Association (NBA) & Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), National Hockey League (NHL), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) shared Spirit Day information on social media including official Facebook and Twitter accounts.

According to GLSEN's 2011 National School Climate Survey, 63.5% of LGBT students reported feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, 43.9% because of their gender expression. GLSEN also reported that 81.9% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation, and 63.9% because of their gender expression.

GLAAD launches #spiritday app to support LGBT youth

GLAAD has announced the launch of the "Go Purple for #spiritday" app. The free app provides users with anti-bullying resources, calls to action, and helps users take part in Spirit Day, the largest and most visible anti-bullying campaign in the world that supports LGBT youth. The app is available now for Apple, Andorid, and Amazon devices.

Spirit Day, which will take place on October 16, inspires millions to wear purple or 'go purple' online in a united stand against bullying and to show their support for LGBT youth. Each year, Spirit Day draws the participation of celebrities, corporations, media outlets, sports leagues, schools, faith institutions, national landmarks, and individuals. Spirit Day is made possible by the generous support of its national partners PepsiCo and Wells Fargo, as well as official partner Comcast-NBCUniversal, and supporting partner American Eagle Outfitters.

Millions wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and to speak out against bullying. Spirit Day was started in 2010 as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. With GLAAD's help, Spirit Day has since garnered widespread support from celebrities, TV news and entertainment programs, corporations, organizations, schools, local communities, and even national landmarks. Spirit Day coincides with GLSEN's Ally Week, as well as National Bullying Prevention Month.

According to GLSEN's 2011 National School Climate Survey, 63.5% of LGBT students reported feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, 43.9% because of their gender expression. GLSEN also reported that 81.9% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation, and 63.9% because of their gender expression.

Previous Spirit Day participants include The White House, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Cher, Shaquille O'Neal, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The View, The Talk, The Tonight Show, the NBA, the NFL, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, the Las Vegas Strip, and more. For more information, visit glaad.org/spiritday

Elvis Duran, Clear Channel stand against bullying for Spirit Day, 10/17

Z100's Elvis Duran and the Morning Show and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, the leading media company in America with a greater reach in the U.S. than any other radio or television outlet, will join millions of people nationwide in 'going purple' for Spirit Day on October 17, 2013 in a united stand against bullying and to show support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth, GLAAD announced today.
Supporters across the country including listeners and celebrities are encouraged to 'go purple' against bullying at http://glaad.org/spiritday

Duran and co-hosts are encouraging listeners in nearly 40 markets, as well as celebrity guests, to wear purple for Spirit Day on October 17. The Elvis Duran in the Morning Show will also 'go purple' online by turning its official Facebook and Twitter profile photos purple on October 17. Additionally, the ElvisDuran.com store is featuring a purple 'Spirit Day T-Shirt,' with all proceeds benefitting GLAAD's work to build support for equality. The Elvis Duran and The Morning Show pledge video can be found here.

"All of our show members are united and thrilled to wear purple and support Spirit Day," said Elvis Duran host of the nationally syndicated 'Elvis Duran and The Morning Show.' The dialogue about anti-bullying and acceptance is an important piece of our overall agenda. Thank you, GLAAD, for providing focus on this serious human rights issue."

Go purple and stand up to bullies this Friday

When I woke up and found anti-gay slurs written all over my car, I was humiliated. I didn't have the money to fix it, which meant I had to drive around Virginia for weeks in a car that said "fa**ot" all over it.

Thankfully, a local auto-repair shop owner stood up for me and helped me get through it, as you might have seen on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

This Friday, you have the chance to join me, GLAAD and countless others as we take a stand against bullying by going purple for Spirit Day on 10/19.

You can help spread the word about Spirit Day right now by turning your Facebook and Twitter profile pictures purple.

Then on Friday, wear purple and help send a powerful message to LGBT youth that it's okay to be who you are. And watch for the hosts of Good Morning America, Facebook, New York's Times Square and athletes from the NBA to also lend their voices.

Knowing millions support you can make all the difference for teens like me. So go purple online, plan your purple outfit for Friday, get more involved ask friends to join you as we turn America purple for Spirit Day on 10/19 in a stand against bullying and to show our support for LGBT youth.

Look who's wearing purple for Spirit Day

E! Network, Alyssa Milano, Ryan Seacrest, Giuliana Rancic, MSNBC's Thomas Roberts, star of Bravo's Real Housewives of NYC Jill Zarin, Khloe Kardashian, Cyndi Lauper, Marc Malkin and Joel Burns are among those who today joined the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) in pledging to wear purple on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, to show support for the victims of anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) bullying.

Spirit Day now counts millions of Americans committed on Facebook to wearing the color purple on October 20 to remember youth lost to anti-LGBT bullying.

E! Online, Kardashian, Milano, Seacrest, Zarin, singer Darren Hayes, actor Wilson Cruz, singer Chely Wright, Ilene Chaiken and others also supported GLAAD's call for Americans to turn their Facebook and Twitter photos purple until Wednesday and to share messages of support for LGBT youth.

Wear purple for Spirit Day, October 20

Spirit Day, created by teenager Brittany McMillan earlier this month, now counts millions of Americans committed on Facebook to wearing the color purple on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Purple symbolizes 'spirit' on the rainbow flag, a symbol for LGBT Pride that was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978. The goal of Spirit Day is to show LGBT youth who are victims of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment that there is a vast community of people who support them.

In addition to wearing the color purple, GLAAD is also asking Americans to turn their Facebook and Twitter photos purple until Wednesday and to share messages of support for LGBT youth. For more information on the free application and suggested messages, please visit www.glaad.org/SpiritDay.

"I will be wearing purple on Spirit Day," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. "The tragic suicides of our youth have started an important dialogue among Americans about the dangers of bullying, and now is the time to show our children that millions of Americans accept and value them regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity."