This year for Spirit Day, countless nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and faith groups have come together to stand up against the bullying of LGBTQ youth. By going purple, these incredible organizations are showing the world that they stand with LGBTQ youth. See posts from PFLAG, Color of Change, No H8 Campaign and more:
Color of Change
Did you know that Black LGBTQ+ youth are reported to experience higher rates of mental health challenges?
This #SpiritDay is a reminder that we need to support and protect LGBTQ+ youth and continue to advocate for their freedom pic.twitter.com/f7xq2sf0dY
— ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) October 20, 2022
National Center for Lesbian Rights
Happy #SpiritDay, besties!! Here to support #LGBTQ youth together! https://t.co/54xdbdaXqn
— NCLR – National Center for Lesbian Rights (@NCLRights) October 20, 2022
PFLAG
We’re #PFLAGProud to partner with our friends at @glaad for #SpiritDay.
Let’s show #LGBTQ youth that we’ve got their back – go purple now! https://t.co/9oWb4m5oUp
— PFLAG National (@PFLAG) October 20, 2022
Sage USA
SAGE is proud to join #SpiritDay. LGBTQ+ youth in schools and LGBTQ+ elders in long-term care communities alike still face bullies and persecution just for being who they are. If you’re a victim of bullying just know, SAGE has your back. pic.twitter.com/XrCNaj0t3z
— SAGE USA (@sageusa) October 20, 2022
Point Foundation
58% of LGBTQ students feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, and 43% feel unsafe because of their gender expression. Today we’re joining @GLAAD in pledging to support LGBTQ youth. Go purple for #SpiritDay at https://t.co/7UbLCeRiDV pic.twitter.com/iO6E8ssnvB
— Point Foundation (@PointFoundation) October 20, 2022
Pride Less Prejudice
Today, LGBTQ youth are experiencing a level of scrutiny in schools we have never seen.
This is why @GLAAD established #SpiritDay, which is TOMORROW. Take the Spirit Day pledge to show LGBTQ youth you’ve got their backs at https://t.co/4nCog5N12i. #glaad #lgbt #lgbtq #youth pic.twitter.com/NMC7RfAIAB
— Pride and Less Prejudice (@LessPrejudice) October 19, 2022
No H8 Campaign
Reminder! October 20th is #SpiritDay Wear purple to stand up & speak out against bullying #NOH8 pic.twitter.com/bY8TbwtXGu
— NOH8 Campaign (@NOH8Campaign) October 20, 2022
Camba YMPH
At CAMBA we hope to pave the way in allowing LGBTQIA+ youth to flourish and get the help they deserve this #SpiritDay pic.twitter.com/W7iFajOASh
— YMHP (@CAMBAYMHP) October 20, 2022
Knit the Rainbow
Today and everyday we stand against bullying and show support for our LGBTQIA+ youth! #SpiritDay #KtR #KnitTheRainbow #knittersofinstagram #knitting #crochet #knit #crocheting #yarn #youth #lgbtq #crochetersofinstagram #fiberarts #craftivism #nyc #chic… https://t.co/Si33rmAlLO pic.twitter.com/66YuMpehyA
— Knit the Rainbow, Inc. (@KnitRainbow) October 20, 2022
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Spirit Day is an annual LGBTQ awareness day created in response to an increase in bullying-related suicides of gay students. The Day presents an opportunity to educate and counter the effects of bullying. #FeelThePower #SpiritDay #LGBTQHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/0oc3foOmNN
— National Center for Civil and Human Rights (@Ctr4CHR) October 20, 2022
Women’s March
Today, we’re celebrating #SpiritDay with @GLAAD and allies everywhere! Women’s March will *always* support and welcome LGBTQ+ folks.
pic.twitter.com/jh9mOBxQLo— Women’s March (@womensmarch) October 20, 2022
Queer Safe Spaces
Today is #SpiritDay, when people around the world wear purple to campaign against queer bullying.#QueerSafeSpaces stands with the global community in fighting all forms of discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ youth in schools and all settings.
No to queer bullying! pic.twitter.com/9gYG7VpYHP
— Queer Safe Spaces (@queersafespaces) October 20, 2022
Spectrum Healthcare
Join us in support of our LGBTQ+ youth and stop bullying! Today is #SpiritDay
Wear purple! Speak out! Support our kids! @glaad #SHCmo #Ally #StopBullying pic.twitter.com/j6LihNN6Wq— Spectrum Health Care (@shc_mo) October 20, 2022
LGBT Center San Diego
Today, October 20th, we recognize Spirit Day and take the #SpiritDay pledge to protect LGBTQ youth.
To learn more about The Center’s resources & programming for LGBTQ youth, please visit: https://t.co/ft6DrZa62r#EndBullying #ProtectLGBTQYouth #ProtectTransYouth pic.twitter.com/Re5frhY9eX
— LGBT Center San Diego (@LGBTCenter) October 20, 2022
The Naming Project
Bullying #LGBTQ youth is sin.#SpiritDay pic.twitter.com/HLVtz89LoI
— The Naming Project (@namingproject) October 20, 2022
Free 2 Luv
For most #LGBTQI+ youth, #bullying is a daily reality. Today and every day, we stand up to hate and bullying. We know LUV is STRONGER than hate and BRAVER than bullying. Be a friend. Speak up and speak out. #SpiritDay #Free2Luv pic.twitter.com/m06hfY5I9A
— FREE2LUV (@FREE_2_LUV) October 20, 2022
Compass Center
The Compass Team is out and about today at the Palm Beach County Homeless Coalition #ProjectHomelessConnect providing participants with Compass resources and #FreeHIVTesting! We are also wearing our purple in recognition of Spirit Day! pic.twitter.com/aRt1lNX5w9
— Compass Center (@CompassCenter) October 20, 2022
Trans Inclusive Group
Today, millions of Americans are joining our friends at @GLAAD by wearing purple on #SpiritDay to fight bullying & show support for #LGBTQ+ youth.
We’re all able to fight bullying in so many different ways — will you commit to supporting LGBTQ+ youth and all of our siblings? pic.twitter.com/aZAsy7Dt0e
— TransinclusiveGroup (@TransinclusiveG) October 20, 2022
Being LGBTQI In The Carribean
Today, spend a couple of minutes learning about the importance of #SpiritDay and why #LGBTI youth need society’s support https://t.co/ykYPKg3GmS
— Being LGBTI in the Caribbean (@LGBTICaribbean) October 20, 2022
Equality NC
We’ve partnered with @glaad to celebrate Spirit Day! Spirit Day is a day to bring awareness to issues that are so prevalent within society and the education system. From bathroom restrictions to cyber bullying, youth are experiencing challenges at an all time high. pic.twitter.com/jdwkgx8XtP
— Equality NC (@equalitync) October 20, 2022
About #SpiritDay
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 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.
GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey, released earlier this week, reported nearly 82% of LGBTQ students feel unsafe in school. 76% experienced in-person verbal harassment (e.g., called names or threatened) and 31% were physically harassed. Earlier this year, The Trevor Project reported 85% of transgender and nonbinary youth say that recent debates around anti-trans bills have negatively impacted their mental health.
GLAAD’s 2022 Social Media Safety Index found severe harassment for LGBTQ users when compared to 2021. This anti-LGBTQ rhetoric translates to real-life harm and has been cited as drivers of many of the over 300 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in states around the country this year alone, many of which target LGBTQ young people.
Take the Spirit Day pledge to show LGBTQ youth you’ve got their backs at glaad.org/spiritday.
For more information on Spirit Day, visit glaad.org/spiritday and follow @GLAAD on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok 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.