This year, TikTok is going purple to support LGBTQ youth. TikTok Creators around the world threw their support to Spirit Day, and the TikTok team took the time to highlight a few messages of support to LGBTQ youth on social media:
On #SpiritDay we stand against bullying and show support for LGBTQ youth. Go purple now and join in https://t.co/zdrTTEBVTi pic.twitter.com/T7rlrKfwAx
— TikTok (@tiktok_us) October 15, 2020
Rachel Slawson, the first openly LGBTQ person to participate in the Miss USA pagent, shared her experience of being bullied for being bisexual. Her words encourage young people to overcome hardships by staying true to themselves.
Other influential TikTok creators also made sure to go purple and celebrate Spirit Day with their followers:
@emmanortss share this video to show you stand together in support of LGBTQ@glaad ##SpiritDay
ME! (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco) – Taylor Swift
i’ll stick with performing, transitions are not my thing but I had to support @glaad for ##spiritday
@radiodisney @mxmtoon is wearing purple today for ##SpiritDay to stand against bullying against the ##lgbtq+ community. @glaad
Be sure to check out #spiritday and @glaad on TikTok for more inspiring messages!
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.