Millions of LGBT people and their allies will dress in purple on today to mark the fifth annual Spirit Day.
Spirit Day began in 2010 as a way to show support for LGBT youth and take a stand against bullying. Following a string of high-profile suicide deaths of gay teens in 2010, GLAAD worked to involve millions of teachers, workplaces, celebrities, media outlets and students in going purple on social media or wearing purple, a color that symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag. Spirit Day now occurs every year on the third Thursday in October, during National Bullying Prevention Month, and has become the most visible day of support for LGBT youth.
Now observed annually, millions of individuals, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals and celebrities are expected to wear purple on Thursday, and color their social media profiles purple as well.
GLAAD offers these tips for participating in this year’s Spirit Day:
- Go Purple for Spirit Day: Take a stand against bullying. Wear something purple, and useGLAAD’s Spirit Day tools to turn your social media profile photos purple to show your support for LGBT youth.
- Tell your friends about #spiritday on Facebook and Twitter: Share the #SpiritDay graphics on social media and help spread the word!
- Tweet to your school about #spiritday: Tell your school or alma mater to support Spirit Day
- Join #spiritday on Facebook: Join the official #SpiritDay event on Facebook and invite your friends.
- Check out the Spirit Day Resource Kit: The Spirit Day Resource Kit will help you engage the participation of your friends, colleagues, local media and public officials.
- Download the #SpiritDay App: You can take part in Spirit Day right from your phone!
The color purple was chosen because it symbolizes “spirit” on the Rainbow Flag.
