Global Organizations Unite the World in Purple for #SpiritDay

In true nature for Spirit Day, which was started by a high school student in Canada, organizations around the world went purple for Spirit Day this year. Countless people, community groups, institutions, and companies turned out to support LGBTQ+ youth and take a stand against bullying. 

Take a look at some of the fantastic people and organizations that have stepped up and gone purple: 

Several United Nations departments sent messages of support for Spirit Day. 

 

Maria Walsh, a Member of the European Parliament, representing Ireland is urging people to take the Spirit Day pledge!

 

The US State Department also went purple, urging others to follow suit. 

 

DiversityLab in Italy, a GLAAD friend and partner, leaned into the "When I First Saw Myself" theme, sharing some groundbreaking television representation. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Diversity (@diversitylab)

 

The Young Queer Alliance in Mauritius posted videos explaining Spirit Day. 

 

Mexican Consulates around the world are always wonderful about spreading the message of Spirit Day. 

 

 

GagaOOLala in Taiwan showing their support for LGBTQ+ youth on #SpiritDay.

 

GLAAD Partner Viktor & Rolf asked drag superstar Miss Fame to go purple. 

 

Equal Ground in Sri Lanka released a multilingual graphic educating people on how to stop bullying. 

 

Equality Jamaica urged followers to go purple. 

 

It Gets Better Peru standing up for LGBTQ+ youth and raising awareness on #SpiritDay.

 

The Bagani Community Center in the Philippines encouraging folks to go purple on #SpiritDay and stand up to harassment.

 

United Kingdom-based Ditch the Label is an anti-bullying organization, so Spirit Day is a natural fit. 

 

Individuals translating the message of #SpiritDay around the world. 

 

 

About Spirit Day
Each year, millions go purple for GLAAD’s Spirit Day to support LGBTQ youth in a united stand against bullying. Started in 2010 by high school student Brittany McMillan in response to numerous young LGBTQ lives lost to suicide, Spirit Day now draws the participation of celebrities, schools, faith institutions, national landmarks, corporations, media outlets, sports leagues, and advocates around the world, all joining together to stand against bullying and support LGBTQ youth.

Presenting sponsors Target, Visible, and Wells Fargo, official sponsors NYC Dept of Youth and Community Development, Sally Hansen, Porsche, SKITTLES, and community sponsors Amazon, Kellogg Company, Kirkland & Ellis, National Basketball Association & Women’s National Basketball Association, NFL, Nike, and Shutterfly will all participate in Spirit Day. 

In 2021, Spirit Day takes on a renewed importance due to the unprecedented challenges facing LGBTQ youth. Over the last year and a half, many LGBTQ youth have not been in school, unable to attend in-person meetings of Gay-Straight Alliances, Gender-Sexuality Alliances or on-campus colleges LGBTQ organizations. During this time, LGBTQ youth have also become increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of cyberbullying, specifically with heightened levels of anti-LGBTQ hate and harassment on social media. Some LGBTQ youth may be confined to a home environment that may be unsupportive or abusive. As well, an unprecedented number of anti-LGBTQ bills in state legislatures specifically targeting trans and nonbinary youth have been in the news. Calls to The Trevor Project’s hotline for LGBTQ youth have at times more than doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic began. 

This year, Spirit Day is on October 21, 2021. Take the Spirit Day pledge to show LGBTQ youth you've got their backs at glaad.org/spiritday. Follow @GLAAD on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to keep up to date with #SpiritDay news.

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