Spirit Day 2020

Tomorrow is Spirit Day.

Ten years ago, 15-year-old high school student Brittany McMillan came up with the idea to wear purple in honor of the young people who were dying by suicide after anti-LGBTQ+ bullying. A Facebook event page for Spirit Day went viral and GLAAD began working to involve celebrities, athletes, businesses, elected officials, etc. in the effort to raise awareness.

Here’s how GLAAD describes the annual observance:

Each year, millions go purple for Spirit Day to support LGBTQ youth in a united stand against bullying. Pledging to “go purple" on Spirit Day is a way for everyone — global and local brands and companies, world leaders, celebrities, neighbors, parents, classmates, and friends — to visibly show solidarity with youth and to take part in the largest, most visible LGBTQ anti-bullying campaign in the world.

GLAAD has collected data that shows 70.1% of LGBTQ+ students report being verbally harassed. 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ youth reported that they had been physically threatened or harmed in their lifetime due to their LGBTQ+ identity. 86% of LGBTQ youth said that recent politics have negatively impacted their well-being.

OutFront Kalamazoo offers several programs for youth and invites everyone to participate in this important national effort as a means of speaking out against LGBTQ+ bullying and standing with LGBTQ+ youth, who disproportionately face bullying and harassment because of their identities.

• Pledge to stand up for LGBTQ+ youth

• Learn the facts about LGBTQ+ bullying

• Go purple on Thursday, October 15th

• Donate, and help us fund our youth programming

• Share with friends on social media - tag your photo with #AlwaysOutFront #SpiritDay