NBC News went purple for Spirit Day across networks in support of LGBTQ youth and in a stand against bullying. Hosts of TODAY wore purple and shared a message of support for LGBTQ youth on air.
The @TODAYshow team went purple this morning to support #SpiritDay We've got #prideNBCU! pic.twitter.com/M0MkijWo7H
— OUT@NBCUniversal (@OUTNBCUniversal) October 20, 2016
NBC News anchors across local markets also wore purple on air and shared messages of support for LGBTQ youth on air and on social media.
We are taking a stand against bullying today. Wear purple #SpiritDay #prideNBCU @OUTNBCUniversal @nbc6 @SheliNBC6 pic.twitter.com/ARaEWq8qmy
— Dan Krauth (@DanNBC6) October 20, 2016
There's a lot of purple around the @NBC6 studio today! Show us yours. Hashtag your photos with #PrideNBCU #SpiritDay https://t.co/uMPeTKhNja pic.twitter.com/ROqcekBVF8
— NBC 6 South Florida (@nbc6) October 20, 2016
NBC News also featured an interview with Spirit Day founder Brittany McMillan about the campaign's impact, success, and growth. "Having GLAAD's support with Spirit Day has been absolutely incredible," McMillan said.
Hosts, anchors, and even interns at other NBCUniversal news properties like Telemundo, NECN, and CNBC also participated.
¡Feliz jueves familia! Hoy en casita apoyando el #SpiritDay pic.twitter.com/NDKYN1c5Ec
— Un Nuevo Día (@UnNuevoDia) October 20, 2016
I'm in purple for #SpiritDay -- standing with #LGBT youth against bullying! @glaad #PrideAtNBCU pic.twitter.com/YDZrWEYcH1
— Jack Thurston (@JackNECN) October 20, 2016
The interns at the Breaking News Assignment Desk at @CNBC! We're wearing purple to support #SpiritDay! #Pridenbcu @workatNBCU @NBCUinterns pic.twitter.com/Oo0OK15L5E
— Asa Dugger (@iamasadugger) October 20, 2016
NBC News also shared an infographic about anti-LGBTQ bullying.
Each year, millions of people "go purple" for Spirit Day in a united stand against bullying and to show support for LGBTQ youth. According to a 2015 GLSEN survey, more than half of LGBTQ students report being victimized based on sexual orientation, with a further three quarters of students who report hearing anti-LGBTQ remarks in school. Started in 2010 by high school student Brittany McMillan, Spirit Day now draws the participation of celebrities, corporations, media outlets, sports leagues, schools, faith institutions, national landmarks, and individuals around the world, who join together in a united stand against bullying.
Check out glaad.org/spiritday for more about how to stand against bullying and show support for LGBTQ youth. Also follow @GLAAD on Twitter to keep up to date with #spiritday news.
Spirit Day is made possible by the generous support of its presenting partners Target and Wells Fargo, official partners, NBA and WNBA, NFL, Viacom, and WWE, and supporting partners, American Eagle Outfitters, Barilla, Comcast NBCUniversal, Kellogg’s, Kirkland & Ellis, Toyota Financial Services, and Zipcar. The translation of GLAAD’s Spirit Day Resource Kit into multiple languages is made possible by a generous grant from Google supporting GLAAD’s Global Voices Initiative. Global Spirit Day resource kits are presented by Logo’s Global Ally campaign.
Past participants in Spirit Day include the White House, the Empire State Building, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Cher, Laverne Cox, Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, Shaquille O'Neal, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The View, The Talk, The Tonight Show, MTV, the NBA, the NFL, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, WWE, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, the Las Vegas Strip, and more.
