GLAAD is proud to have the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development and the New York City Council as sponsors of Spirit Day. New York City has a storied LGBTQ history and with their help we are creating a brighter future for LGBTQ youth! While GLAAD’s staff can’t be gathered in our New York City office, the rest of the city is going purple all around us.
At our Spirit Day Task Force, we were able to snap a photo of some of our staff going purple for the day.
The City of New York declared, “You are perfect exactly as you are, and you will ALWAYS be accepted in New York City. Bullying is NOT tolerated. #SpiritDay.”
You are perfect exactly as you are, and you will ALWAYS be accepted in New York City. Bullying is NOT tolerated. #SpiritDay pic.twitter.com/eW5QUP4DQf
— City of New York (@nycgov) October 15, 2020
The Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, donned a purple tie for his press conference, making sure to point it out, and talk about support for LGBTQ youth who are experiencing bullying.
New York’s Governor, Andrew Cuomo, also tweeted in support of Spirit Day.
In honor of #SpiritDay I am proud to join @glaad and stand with #LGBTQ youth against bullying.
Remember: NY you no matter your sexual orientation or gender identity. We have your back.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) October 15, 2020
New York State Attorney General Letitia James also proclaimed her support for LGBTQ youth.
I’m proud to stand with @glaad and #LGBTQ+ youth in New York and across our entire nation this #SpiritDay.
We all have a duty to stand tall for love.
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) October 15, 2020
The billboards of Times Square was also a sea of purple. Spirit Day Official Partner Skittles took over the M&M billboard to send a message of solidarity with LGBTQ youth.
.@Skittles is going all purple today in a major support for LGBTQ youth, and they’re taking over the M&M’S New York Jumbotron in Times Square! Join them and take a stand against bullying! pic.twitter.com/JoL5RlhLpe
— GLAAD (@glaad) October 15, 2020
Thomas Reuters lit up Times Square, displaying images of GLAAD’s LGBTQ youth campus ambassadors on their billboard. The billboard campaign ran the week leading up to Spirit Day and was visited by one of the youth featured, Aaron Gigilo. Check out Aaron’s reaction and the image of the billboard below.
NASDAQ, a longtime supporter of Spirit Day and GLAAD, turned its tower purple to express support for LGBTQ youth.
American Eagle went big to support and highlight LGBTQ again this year, lighting up their billboards for Spirit Day. Their campaign ran throughout the week, reaching thousands of shoppers and onlookers in NYC.
ViacomCBS went big throughout the company this year to amplify support for LGBTQ youth, including lighting up their Times Square billboard. GLAAD Campus Ambassador, Lisa Kaari went to visit the billboard in person in honor of Spirit Day!
New York City nonprofits are also getting into their own form of purple. NYC Pride went all in.
Today is #SpiritDay! Join @GLAAD and AFC by wearing purple today to show that you’re against bullying and show support for #LGBTQ youth. Learn more about Spirit Day: https://t.co/aZIZz0S1G8 pic.twitter.com/5wSng5910I
— Ali Forney Center (@AliForneyCenter) October 15, 2020
New York sports teams turned purple in an effort by Major League Baseball to support LGBTQ youth and Spirit Day.
The New York Yankees are proud to stand against bullying and support LGBTQ+ youth. #SpiritDay
https://t.co/fd0C6FD6fK pic.twitter.com/780dG5rgdB
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 15, 2020
Today we celebrate #SpiritDay and stand against bullying. pic.twitter.com/LaqtSN0EHf
— New York Mets (@Mets) October 15, 2020
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.