In true nature for Spirit Day, which was started by a high school student in Canada, organizations around the world went purple for Spirit Day this year. Countless people, community groups, institutions, and companies turned out to support LGBTQ+ youth and take a stand against bullying.
Take a look at some of the fantastic people and organizations that have stepped up and gone purple:
Several United Nations departments sent messages of support for Spirit Day.
Young LGBTIQ+ people are much more likely to be bullied, abused & isolated – simply because of who they are or whom they love.
On Thursday’s #SpiritDay, join UN @free_equal & support LGBTIQ+ youth. https://t.co/N21dBUhVsC #StandUp4HumanRights pic.twitter.com/1pd9MsmmGI
— United Nations (@UN) October 20, 2021
No child should fear going to school! Classrooms should be places where ALL young people can be their best selves, regardless of who they are or whom they love! #SpiritDay #GoPurple pic.twitter.com/PHiyT2UzDw
— UN Free & Equal (@free_equal) October 21, 2021
Everyone who wishes to pursue their education should be able to do so without facing bullying, harassment or discrimination.
On Today’s #SpiritDay, join @UN @free_equal in calling for inclusive education for all, #LGBTIQ+ youth included. https://t.co/Xv6wEBfH6i pic.twitter.com/2UQbLW2hCt
— UNYouth (@UN4Youth) October 21, 2021
Maria Walsh, a Member of the European Parliament, representing Ireland is urging people to take the Spirit Day pledge!
Today we celebrate #SpiritDay, an international and united stand against bullying to support LGBTQI+ youth
Take the pledge here: https://t.co/laIi5l4hSW#StandUpToBullying #GoPurple #SpiritDay pic.twitter.com/4zziOnFuf5— Maria Walsh MEP (@MariaWalshEU) October 21, 2021
The US State Department also went purple, urging others to follow suit.
LGBTQI+ persons around the world experience bullying and harassment which undermine individuals’ well-being, safety, and freedom of expression. This #SpiritDay, we stand with LGBTQI+ communities everywhere and encourage everyone to wear purple to show support! pic.twitter.com/sKgjQ6GodZ
— Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (@StateDRL) October 21, 2021
Join Jessica Stern – our new Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons – who proudly wears purple this #SpiritDay to stand against bullying and harassment of LGBTQI+ youth! All people should be free to live their truth without fear. pic.twitter.com/GeEQkw4uRe
— Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (@StateDRL) October 21, 2021
DiversityLab in Italy, a GLAAD friend and partner, leaned into the “When I First Saw Myself” theme, sharing some groundbreaking television representation.
The Young Queer Alliance in Mauritius posted videos explaining Spirit Day.
Mexican Consulates around the world are always wonderful about spreading the message of Spirit Day.
#TuConsulMexAtl el día de hoy se une al #SpiritDay 2021 para generar conciencia y prevenir el acoso, discriminación y violencia a la comunidad LGBT+#ZonaSegura #MéxicoIncluyente @IME_SRE pic.twitter.com/bTI0FR5reu
— Consulmex Atlanta (@ConsulMexAtl) October 21, 2021
En @ConsulmexStPaul nos unimos a la conmemoración del #SpiritDay. Generemos conciencia y evitemos la discriminación, acoso y violencia contra jóvenes #LGBTQ+.#MéxicoIncluyente #ZonaSegura #ProtecciónConsular #ConsuladoDeMéxico pic.twitter.com/K8ALRDdAMM
— ConsulMex Saint Paul (@ConsulMexStPaul) October 21, 2021
GagaOOLala in Taiwan showing their support for LGBTQ+ youth on #SpiritDay.
GLAAD Partner Viktor & Rolf asked drag superstar Miss Fame to go purple.
Equal Ground in Sri Lanka released a multilingual graphic educating people on how to stop bullying.
Equality Jamaica urged followers to go purple.
WEAR PURPLE TOMORROW AND @ US TO BE FEATURED!
1 Day till Spirit Day! 1 day till we take a visible stance against the bullying of LGBTQ+ people, especially youth, globally! Participate! #SpiritDay #AntiBullying pic.twitter.com/09kRNV2n13
— Equality Jamaica (@EqualityJa) October 20, 2021
It Gets Better Peru standing up for LGBTQ+ youth and raising awareness on #SpiritDay.
El Día del Espíritu #SpiritDay es un día para concientizar a la sociedad sobre el acoso que reciben lxs jóvenes LGBTQ+ debido a sus identidades. Vestir una prenda morada en este día es una forma de demostrar el compromiso a detener el bullying hacia lxs jóvenes LGBTQ+. pic.twitter.com/FOCzRnmLdZ
— It Gets Better Perú (@itgetsbetterpe) October 21, 2021
The Bagani Community Center in the Philippines encouraging folks to go purple on #SpiritDay and stand up to harassment.
It’s #SpiritDay! The LGBTQ+ youth continuously face bullying and harassment because of their identities. Let us all take a stand against bullying and wear something purple today to show our support to the wonderful and colorful members of our community — especially the youth! pic.twitter.com/G7KPCRQE1s
— Bagani Community Center (@BaganiBCD) October 21, 2021
United Kingdom-based Ditch the Label is an anti-bullying organization, so Spirit Day is a natural fit.
Join us and @glaad in taking a stand against bullying today for #SpiritDay!
Take the pledge here: https://t.co/26EK07R1sG pic.twitter.com/KTNwFeWoT4
— Ditch the Label (@DitchtheLabel) October 21, 2021
Individuals translating the message of #SpiritDay around the world.
สุขสันต์วัน #spiritday นะคะทุกคน!!! pic.twitter.com/pMPtyD1j4V
— โลกของBL (@yuwenting_) October 21, 2021
Entre 60 y 70% de estudiantes LGBTQ+ sufren acoso, violencia verbal y física por ser quienes son.
Conoce más y súmate a #SpiritDay hoy y siempre
Alza la voz en contra del bullying por orientación sexual, identidad y expresión de género. pic.twitter.com/4UaMKpOXI7
— Víctor Manuel Romart (@viko234248) October 21, 2021
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 sponsors Target, Visible, and Wells Fargo, official sponsors NYC Dept of Youth and Community Development, Sally Hansen, Porsche, SKITTLES, and community sponsors Amazon, Kellogg Company, Kirkland & Ellis, National Basketball Association & Women’s National Basketball Association, NFL, Nike, and Shutterfly will all participate in Spirit Day.
In 2021, Spirit Day takes on a renewed importance due to the unprecedented challenges facing LGBTQ youth. Over the last year and a half, many LGBTQ youth have not been in school, unable to attend in-person meetings of Gay-Straight Alliances, Gender-Sexuality Alliances or on-campus colleges LGBTQ organizations. During this time, LGBTQ youth have also become increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of cyberbullying, specifically with heightened levels of anti-LGBTQ hate and harassment on social media. Some LGBTQ youth may be confined to a home environment that may be unsupportive or abusive. As well, an unprecedented number of anti-LGBTQ bills in state legislatures specifically targeting trans and nonbinary youth have been in the news. 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 21, 2021. Take the Spirit Day pledge to show LGBTQ youth you’ve got their backs at glaad.org/spiritday. Follow @GLAAD on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to keep up to date with #SpiritDay news.