The World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders, a community of enterprising, socially-minded leaders working as a force for good, today rallied for GLAAD’s Spirit Day campaign during the #YGL18 Summit.
Over 50 Young Global Leaders posed with GLAAD's Spirit Day sign during the course of the summit this week. LGBTQ attendees and allies from Australia, Brazil, Singapore, the UAE, the UK, the USA, among other countries, also held conversations about accelerating LGBTQ acceptance around the world.
“When the next generation of leaders looks to the future, it is so important to have diverse voices stand up and be champions for inclusion,” said Sam Gregory, the Program Director of WITNESS and an alum of the YGL class of 2011 who attended the Summit.
Aria Finger, the CEO of DoSomething.org and an alum of the YGL class of 2016 agreed, saying: “The conversations held over the past few days about LGBTQ people and issues pave the way for projects that will educate, inspire, and advance acceptance."
GLAAD rallies hundreds of celebrities, media, brands, landmarks, sports leagues, tech leaders, faith groups, school districts, colleges and students to go purple on Spirit Day - the most visible anti-LGBTQ bullying campaign and united show of support for LGBTQ youth. #SpiritDay was trending on twitter yesterday throughout the day.
Check out some of the other participants here!
Global brands including Hilton, Target and Wells Fargo also participated in Spirit Day and shared messages of inclusion to LGBTQ employees. Empowering LGBTQ youth, employees, and allies is crucial to building a strong workforce and furthering the World Economic Forum's misson of shaping a global agenda that advances economic development.
The @wef @YGLvoices are against bullying of LGBTQ youth! #YGL18 #SpiritDay pic.twitter.com/aGcQbnpAIl
— Joy Dunn (@RocketJoy) October 18, 2018
Earlier this year, GLAAD hosted a panel on LGBTQ acceptnace in Davos, Switzerland timed with the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. GLAAD and The Ariadne Getty Foundation’s panel “Progress in Peril: How Business, Philanthropy and Media Can Lead to Achieving 100% Acceptance for LGBTQ People” included notable panelists and representatives from EY, Omnicom Group Inc., Dow Chemical Company, Paypal, Uber, and Microsoft speaking about how the business community and the World Economic Forum can expand LGBTQ inclusion 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 partners Hilton, Target, and Wells Fargo, official partners Barilla, Johnson & Johnson, the NBA and WNBA, as well as supporting partners Kellogg’s and Kirkland & Ellis will all participate in the anti-bullying campaign.
As anti-LGBTQ policies, hate crimes, and harassment are on the rise, it is now especially important to let all marginalized youth know they are supported.
This year, Spirit Day is on October 18, 2018. 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 Tumblr to keep up to date with #SpiritDay news.
