Spirit Day is a global effort! This year, nonprofits, advocacy groups, and tourism offices from around the world went purple to demonstrate their support for LGBTQ youth. By publicly taking a stand against anti-LGBTQ bullying these organizations are making the world a more welcoming place for queer individuals of all ages, no matter where they live in the world:
ASIA:
今日10/19はスピリットデー（Spirit Day）。
LGBTQ+の人権のシンボル・6色レインボーの中で「精神（スピリット）」を表す紫のものを身につけて、世界中の若いLGBTQ＋への、性的指向、性自認や性表現を理由としたいじめに反対する意思を表明する日です。 #SpiritDay pic.twitter.com/34AsYyPWG7— 明石市LGBTQ+/SOGIE施策 (@akashi_nijiiro) October 19, 2023
Today, October 19, is Spirit Day. It is a global initiative that aims to support LGBTQ youth who disproportionately face bullying and harassment because of their identities. [REPOST] #DumagueteInfo #DumaGetMe pic.twitter.com/63YrvrFoPB
— Dumaguete Tourism Official (@DgteTourism) October 19, 2023
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EUROPE:
Today is #SpiritDay! 💜 Find out why today is so important and what you can do to support @glaad 💜 pic.twitter.com/rBA1EzEFjX
— Ditch the Label (@DitchtheLabel) October 19, 2023
We're celebrating Spirit Day, an annual awareness day to support LGBTQ youth by advocating against bullying! #spiritday #proud pic.twitter.com/ZlFaE59q9A
— Bird College (@BirdCollegeUK) October 19, 2023
Today, we stand up against bullying and show our unwavering support for LGBTQ+ youth. Let's create a world where everyone can embrace their true selves without fear. 💜🏳️🌈 #SpiritDay #ChooseKindness pic.twitter.com/ufHjYAAwWZ
— Trans in the City (@TransITCUK) October 16, 2023
Oggi si celebra lo Spirit Day, giornata dedicata al contrasto del bullismo omofobico. L'avvocato Paolo Russo, Presidente dell'associazione Contrajus APS, ci spiega come agire nel concreto: https://t.co/5VSNteaMOU#spiritday #bullismo #cyberbullismo #lgbt #omofobia pic.twitter.com/wIkvrDfyqj
— Parks – Liberi e Uguali (@parksdiversity) October 19, 2023
#SpiritDay #bepurple #againstbullying
— ygrò_lgbtqi+rights (@YgroLgbtqi) October 19, 2023
AFRICA:
#spiritday is a time to stand up against bullying, to inspire and protect LGBTQ+ youth. We hope that you feel loved and celebrated. Happy Spirit day. @TransSwati @healthplus_sd @fhi360 pic.twitter.com/yPeQ5gPLPq
— TRUE ESWATINI (@EswatiniTrue) October 19, 2023
AMERICAS:
Aunque el #SpiritDay se celebra una vez al año, la lucha contra el acoso y la discriminación LGBTQIA+ es constante. Demostremos nuestro apoyo todos los días. 💜✨ pic.twitter.com/rMYVWYxGjl
— ElSalvadorG.com (@elsalvadorg_sv) October 18, 2023
#wednesdaywisdom
Be revolutionary! Define your own self for yourself ✊🏾
.#harveyfierstein
.
.#Internationalpronounsday #spiritday #mauricebishopday pic.twitter.com/XIsZtqWo4f— ECADE (@EC_Equality) October 18, 2023
Primero y principal: Estamos celebrando esta semana #SpiritDay, donde elevamos y brindamos apoyo a la juventud 2SLGBTQAI+ y tomamos una sólida oposición ante el bullying y la discriminación. pic.twitter.com/HV6uH1xFMv
— saltï 🧪 BRUJA (@reinasalti) October 17, 2023
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Spirit Day is a means of speaking out against 2SLGBTQQIA+ bullying and standing with youth who face harassment because of their identities. Go PURPLE and show solidarity, because violence of any kind will not be tolerated. #SpiritDay @PamNParsons #GovNL pic.twitter.com/pvqRO9GIhf
— Office of Women and Gender Equality (@WGE_GovNL) October 19, 2023
🏳️🌈#SpiritDay serves as a powerful global force against bullying, empowering 2SLGBTQ youth, especially transgender and nonbinary individuals, to live authentically.
➡️ Despite growing acceptance, there's a simultaneous rise in discrimination and online hate, 1/2 pic.twitter.com/PvJvn5Zbsg
— Community One FDN (@C1Foundation) October 19, 2023
GLOBAL:
Today is the @UN Free and Equal and @GLAAD #SpiritDay! This week, we'll be focusing on the successes of LGBTQIA+ astronomers in our community and how we can make astronomy a safe space for all. 🌈 🌌
📷: Laurie Raye#lgbtqia #astro #SpiritDay pic.twitter.com/TmDWJTnrmU
— IAU OAO (@IAU_Outreach) October 17, 2023
🏳️🌈✨ Today, we stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ youth around the world for #SpiritDay.
💜 Together, we can build a future free from bullying and discrimination. Spread love and kindness!#igrugby #rugbyforall pic.twitter.com/z7LSczdTsN
— IGR International Gay Rugby (@IGRugby) October 19, 2023
Anti-LGBTQ bullying is a global issue and requires an intersectional, global response. GLAAD is grateful to the above organizations for doing their part in bettering the lives of queer youth and for raising awareness for the LGBTQ community as a whole.
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 was started in 2010 by 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 that came to be known as Spirit Day.
Today, LGBTQ youth, and especially trans and nonbinary youth, are experiencing a level of scrutiny in schools we have never seen, leading to an environment rife with stressors beyond the 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, the means by which a student can express themselves and see others like them are increasingly being challenged.
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 on Spirit Day, visit glaad.org/spiritday and follow @GLAAD on social media to keep up to date with #SpiritDay news.
About GLAAD
GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.