Faith-based organizations are turning purple for Spirit Day to oppose bullying and stand in solidarity with LGBT youth. You can see the purple tide rising across the web.
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) is an organization that expands ministry opportunities for publicly-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender clergy in the Lutheran Church. Today’s post on the ELM blog is by Pastor Cindy Crane, who does anti-bullying work as a part of her ministry.
BJUnity, the organization of LGBT alumni from fundamentalist Bob Jones University has changed placed its logo, adding a purple background. Their web site features a blog post by a transgender nun, Elena Kelly.
Likewise, the normally rainbow logo of Reconciling Ministries Network, has taken on multiple shades of purple. They downloaded and used the Spirit Day app for iPhone and Android.
Meanwhile, More Light Presbyterians shared a blog post that talked about Ally Week and Spirit Day, and the importance of going purple. It also shared the petition by Katy Butler, asking the presidential candidates to go purple for Spirit Day. The Plucky Presby, John Russell Stanger with Presbyterian Welcome, even wrote a letter to his 12-year-old self.
Integrity, the Episcopal LGBT organization, has turned it's web site purple, as well as written a blog post that The Episcopal Church passed a resolution at its General Convention this last summer that calls on all Episcopalians to oppose bullying, in all its forms.
Groundswell, the mutli-faith social justice movement, is encouraing it's followers in a blog post, as well as Facebook postings, to go purple. And even congregations are getting into the Spirit. Middle Collegiate Church in New York City, posted a photo of its staff in purple, marking Spirit Day.
GLAAD has created two faith-based Spirit Day graphics to share on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr. They can be downloaded fromthe faith page of the Spirit Day web site.
Take a stand against bullying and support LGBT youth by participating in Spirit Day on Friday, October 19. To get involved, simply go purple on October 19 as we work to create a world in which LGBT teens are accepted for who they are. You can download GLAAD’s Spirit Day resource kit which contains tools to get your local community involved. Spirit Day participants can also spread the word and tell their friends they’re standing up against bullying, and text PURPLE to 80888 to donate $5 to support the important work GLAAD, GLSEN and The Trevor Project do every day to end bullying and support LGBT youth. Another way to celebrate Spirit Day is to visit the American Apparel #SpiritDay store to get your own purple gear with a 10% discount and 10% of proceeds going to GLAAD.
