Every year on Spirit Day, millions of people around the world wear purple to take a stand against bullying and to show unwavering support for LGBTQ youth. What began as a student-led call for visibility has grown into one of the largest, most unifying acts of solidarity across media, sports, entertainment, and grassroots communities.
Across social media, creators, educators, athletes, artists, and advocates of color used their platforms to remind LGBTQ youth that they are loved, seen, and celebrated. From grassroots collectives organizing local Spirit Day photo shoots to celebrities amplifying anti-bullying resources in English, Spanish, and beyond, this year’s participation revealed the strength of intersectional advocacy in action.
At GLAAD, we know that representation doesn’t just happen in headlines or on screens. It lives in the everyday acts of solidarity that fill our feeds. You see it in the way a Black trans creator uses her story to inspire others, in a Latinx educator who turns his classroom purple, in the AAPI youth collectives uplifting mental health for their peers, and in Indigenous leaders connecting cultural identity with queer pride.
On October 16th, Spirit Day 2025 reminded us that when communities of color lead with love, they don’t just join a movement, they expand it. They remind the world that LGBTQ youth are not a monolith, and that the fight against bullying and erasure must always include every intersection of race, gender, and sexuality.
Below, we’re highlighting just a few of the many ways communities of color turned social media into a space of joy, unity, and empowerment.
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In honor of #SpiritDay, Orioles staff members read books about anti-bullying and inclusivity to students at Harlem Park Elementary Middle School! pic.twitter.com/GhkuwWHv7F
— Orioles Community (@OsCommunity) October 16, 2025
