This Spirit Day, several LGBTQ media outlets celebrated by going purple and publishing articles in support of LGBTQ youth through their media coverage. Outlets including Billboard Pride, NBC Out, NewNowNext, Out, Outsports, PinkNews, and more showed their support for LGBTQ youth.
Check out how these LGBTQ outlets participated in Spirit Day below:
The Advocate
In addition to changing its logos to purple on social media, The Advocate shared a piece from former GLAAD Rising Star recipient Abbey Perl, in which she talks to two Texas teachers about what it means to support LGBTQ youth on Spirit Day and beyond.
Billboard Pride
In honor of Spirit Day, Billboard Pride did a round-up of music celebs who participated in Spirit Day, including Sam Smith ,Tegan and Sara, Lionel Richie & more, and shared their words of encouragement and support for LGBTQ youth.
NBC Out
NBC Out published a recap of all the politicians, corporations, and celebrities who participated in Spirit Day by going purple and showing support for LGBTQ youth.
Ms. Magazine
Ms. Magazine featured a Q&A between Clare Kenny, GLAAD’s Director of Youth Engagement, and filmmaker Luchina Fisher. In the interview, Luchina talks about her new trans inclusive documentary, which tells the an untold story of Chicago Black transgender legend, Gloria Allen. In honor of Spirit Day, Luchina also talks in the interview about why it is so important for parents to be allies to their LGBTQ children, especially in the Black community.
NewNowNext
NewNowNext published an article titled, Nina West, Javicia Leslie, and More Go Purple for Spirit Day, which featured tweets from Celine Dion, RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Nina West, Javicia Leslie from The CW’s Batwoman, Robin Roberts, Reba and more in support of LGBTQ youth. NewNowNext also changed all of its icons to purple on social media in support of Spirit Day.
Outtake Voices
In honor of Spirit Day, Outtake published an article about the importance of supporting LGBTQ youth and highlighted many of the participants of this year’s Spirit Day.
Out
Out Magazine celebrated Spirit Day by publishing an article by GLAAD Campus Ambassador Amiri Nash, titled Bullying Disproportionately Affects Black Youth Like Me — It Must Stop. The piece focuses on Amiri’s personal perspective of being young, Black, and queer in America.
Outsports
In support of Spirit Day, Outsports shared the story of Jacob Lancaster, an openly gay high school football player determined to change the status quo and break down barriers for other LGBTQ people in sports. Outsports also changed its social avatars to purple to honor the anti-bullying campaign.
Pride.com
Pride.com published an in-depth look at the history of Spirit Day with its creator Brittany McMillian, where she shares her reason for creating the campaign and the importance of raising awareness about bullying facing LGBTQ youth.
PinkNews
PinkNews shared informative videos about bullying and Intersex awareness on Twitter in support of Spirit Day.
South Florida Gay News
South Florida Gay News published an illuminating article, ‘Going Purple’ And The Importance of it, in support of Spirit Day.
them
them recapped this year’s star-studded Spirit Day participants, including Sam Smith and Nina West, while also highlighting the stories of the LGBTQ youth shared on social media throughout the day, which showcase how prevalent bullying still remains in the lives of LGBTQ youth – even a decade after Spirit Day was founded.
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 Delta Air Lines, Kellogg Company, and Target, official partners Amazon, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development and the New York City Council, and Skittles, as well as community partners Kirkland & Ellis, NBA & WNBA will all participate in 2020 Spirit Day.
In 2020, Spirit Day takes on a renewed importance due to the unprecedented challenges facing LGBTQ youth. This year, many LGBTQ youth are beginning the school year at home and are unable to attend in-person meetings of Gay-Straight Alliances, Gender-Sexuality Alliances or on-campus college LGBTQ organizations. Some LGBTQ youth may be confined to a home environment that may be unsupportive or abusive. Calls to The Trevor Project’s hotline for LGBTQ youth have at times more than doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
This year, Spirit Day is on October 15, 2020. Take the Spirit Day pledge to show LGBTQ youth you’ve got their backs at glaad.org/spiritday. Follow @GLAAD on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to keep up to date with #SpiritDay news.