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    Spirit Day

    The Big Apple Takes a Bite Out of Bullying: #SpiritDay in New York Celebrates LGBTQ Youth

    GLAADBy 8 Mins Read
    New York City
    New York City

    By Kate Donnelly

    On October 19th, New York City was transformed into the heart and soul of #Spirit Day – the world’s largest anti-bullying campaign. Love and support from The City So Nice, They Named It Twice was perfectly timed for LGBTQ kids 41% more at risk of attempting suicide than their non-LGBTQ peers. For them – and for teachers, parents, and the 7 in 10 people eager to be allies – the message was loud and clear: Wherever you are, New York City has your back. 

    Iconic Gotham landmarks and institutions shone with support, as the Empire State Building literally glowed with #SpiritDay’s signature color purple, thanks to help from actress and activist Laverne Cox, local nonprofit Gotham Cheer, and several GLAAD board members. The New York City-based United Nations used its global platform to educate the world about #SpiritDay. Locally-grown businesses also did their part, like publisher Little Bee Books which encouraged readers to learn more about bullying with its #SpiritDay children’s book.

    Broadway shows sang out, including a purple-themed DJ celebration hosted by “Here Lies Love.” Other shows participating included “Chicago” and the entire cast of “Six,” who encouraged audiences to “inspire LGBTQ+ youth to live their lives fully and authentically.”

    Legendary New York sports teams and icons that made Spirit Day a win included Good Morning Football hosts, the headquarters of Major League Baseball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets telling fans that “today and every day we are proud of LGBTQ youth.”

    New York City and State nonprofits and educational organizations raised awareness, too – from Out Syracuse, Advocates for Children New York, and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to the New York State Education Department. The Columbia School of Journalism encouraged future journalists to share accurate information about LGBTQ youth bullying.  And after a GLAAD Media Institute challenge, City University of New York (CUNY) participation exploded across departments, including from its LGBTQ+ Student Center.

    GLAAD’s partnership with The New York Department of Education and The New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival (Newfest) also gave 300 LGBTQ youth from public schools the chance to see their own short films and stories on the big screen.

    Never to be missed, New York-based TV shows, hosts, and journalists joined the conversation, including The View, The Talk, and The Late Show, as well as MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle. All day, ABC7New York hosts and reporters celebrated LGBTQ youth in their newscasts and told viewers, “If you noticed a bit more purple walking around on Thursday, it’s not a coincidence.” The local network also put actress and journalist Eva Reign in the spotlight to give a voice to the transgender community. And NY Capitol Reporter Liz Benjamin shared a reflection on her morning news roundup “Rise & Shine”.

     

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    A post shared by Stephanie Ruhle (@stephruhle)

    Finally, New York legislators said it all by centering the Day’s critical conversations on LGBTQ youth – from Attorney General, Leticia James and Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, to the New York City Council and Council Members Erik Botcher and Crystal Hudson. In fact, New York City Council Speaker, Adrienne Adams, summarized the City’s commitment perfectly, when she tweeted, “We stand with you today and always.”

    About #SpiritDay

    Each year, GLAAD organizes celebrities, media outlets, brands, landmarks, sports leagues, faith groups, school districts, organizations, colleges and universities in what has become the most visible anti-LGBTQ bullying campaign in the world. Purple also symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag. The annual tradition began in 2010, with GLAAD and then high school student Brittany McMillan, in memory of the LGBTQ youth who died by suicide. McMillan encouraged her friends to wear purple on a day in October — a day now known as Spirit Day.

    Today, LGBTQ youth, and especially trans and nonbinary youth, are experiencing stressors beyond peer-to-peer bullying of the past, from book bans, to bans on trans youth in sports, to bathroom restrictions and teachers barred from using correct pronouns. In fact, GLAAD’s 2023 Social Media Safety Index found severe harassment for LGBTQ users when compared to 2022 and found that all five major social media platforms continue to fail on LGBTQ safety. This anti-LGBTQ rhetoric then translates to real-life harm and has been cited as drivers of many of the more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in states around the country this year alone, many of which target our LGBTQ youth.

    For more information, visit glaad.org/spiritday and follow @GLAAD on social media to keep up to date with #SpiritDay news.

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