Spirit Day

take the pledge against bullying

Each year on Spirit Day, millions go purple to support LGBTQ youth.
Add your name below to take the pledge against bullying.

what is spirit day?

LGBTQ youth disproportionately face bullying and harassment because of their identities. Each year, millions go purple for Spirit Day to support LGBTQ youth in a united stand against bullying. Pledging to “go purple" on Spirit Day is a way for everyone — global and local brands and companies, world leaders, celebrities, neighbors, parents, classmates, and friends — to visibly show solidarity with youth and to take part in the largest, most visible LGBTQ anti-bullying campaign in the world.

when I first saw myself

#WhenIFirstSawMyself @GLAAD
#WhenIFirstSawMyself @GLAAD

Media representation of LGBTQ people including film, tv, online and video games has the ability to help counter the dangerous effects of bullying and has become an even more critical means of connection during this unprecedented time for the LGBTQ youth experiencing this epidemic.

#SpiritDay is an opportunity to highlight and support programming that counters the dangerous effects of bullying when we share stories of when we first saw ourselves in media and how it feels to be accepted for exactly who you are. You will never know how seeing yourself and the possibility of your future can counter the pain of bullying or how many parents will see this support and use it as inspiration if their own children were to come out to them.

@spencer2thewest

##AD Why 2SLGBTQ+ Books are Important @target ##NationalComingOutDay ##SpiritDay ##booktok ##lgbtqbooks

♬ Stories 2 - Danilo Stankovic

why it matters

  • GLAAD Campus Ambassadors share the impact of bullying
  • Support LGBTQ youth and stand up against hate
  • LGBTQ students get real about bullying

learn the facts

  • 70.1%

    of LGBTQ students
    report being verbally
    harassed.*

  • 71%

    of LGBTQ students report
    hearing homophobic
    remarks from teachers and/
    or school staff because of
    their gender expression.*

  • 53.3%

    of LGBTQ students did
    not report experiences of
    bullying because they
    doubted an intervention.*

  • 48.7%

    of LGBTQ students
    have experienced
    cyberbullying.*

  • 29%

    of LGBTQ youth
    have experienced
    homelessness, been kicked
    out, or run away.^

  • 86%

    of LGBTQ youth said that
    recent politics have
    negatively impacted their
    well-being.^

a 2021 national survey by The Trevor Project shows

  • the majority of LGBT youth (52%) who were enrolled in middle or high school report being bullied either in person or electronically in the past year.
  • Over 80% of youth said that celebrities who are LGBTQ positively impact how they feel about being LGBTQ
  • 1 in 3 LGBTQ youth
    reported that they
    had been physically
    threatened or
    harmed in their
    lifetime due to their
    LGBTQ identity.^
  • More than half of
    transgender and
    non-binary youth
    have seriously
    considered suicide.^
  • The proportion of
    LGBTQ youth
    reporting a suicide
    attempt in recent
    years was higher
    among youth of
    color     than White
    non-Hispanic youth."

how to participate

2021 sponsors