This year on October 19, millions of Americans will once again wear purple for Spirit Day in a stand against bullying and to show their support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. The message of Spirit Day speaks directly to students, who often face or participate in bullying at school. Now, GLAAD has teamed up with organizations including the GSA Network, Campus Pride and GLSEN to help students, faculty, and staff at schools and colleges around the country go purple on Spirit Day! Below are some ways that you can engage the participation of your friends, classmates, colleagues, local media and school officials.
If your school or student group is going purple for Spirit Day, let us know at www.glaad.org/spiritday/schools!
Students, faculty and staff at K-12 schools:
1. Wear purple in school or just around town. Tell people why you are wearing purple, share the history and message of Spirit Day, and ask those around you to join in wearing purple to stand against bullying.
2. Get active! Host a Spirit Day speak-out event where people share their coming out stories.
3. Take over a class! Get your teacher’s permission to take over a class and lead a discussion about LGBTQ issues at your school.
4. Engage media! Get your actions publicized in the school news and in local news in your area. Invite local media to cover an event at your school. Find out how to contact local media with GLAAD and GSA Network's Spirit Day Kit below!
5. Share information about Spirit Day directly with students, faculty and staff at your school with GLAAD’s Spirit Day Poster below!
6. Find out more about these and other ways you can take action on Spirit Day in the GLAAD and GSA Network's Spirit Day Kit below!
7. Share your plans with GLAAD at http://www.glaad.org/spiritday/endorse!
Students, faculty and staff at colleges and universities:
1. Wear purple at your job, in school, or just around town. Tell people why you are wearing purple, share the history and message of Spirit Day, and ask those around you to join in wearing purple to stand against bullying.
2. Contact local business and organizations, and as them to support Spirit Day and LGBT youth by going purple at their place of operation and on social media.
3. Hold an event for Spirit Day at your local community center, your college campus, or other public area. Encourage attendees to wear purple and center the event on raising awareness about local issues pertaining to LGBT youth or bullying.
4. Encourage local media outlets to cover an event for Spirit Day or pitch a story to them that raises awareness of bullying and issues faced by LGBT youth. Find out how to contact local media with GLAAD and Campus Pride's Spirit Day Kit below!
5. Send a letter to college administrators and public officials asking them to participate in Spirit Day by going purple on October 19.
6. Go purple online: turn your Facebook and Twitter profile pictures purple. Use GLAAD’s tool here: www.glaad.org/spiritday
7. Share more information about Spirit Day directly with students, faculty and staff on your college campus with GLAAD’s Spirit Day Poster below!
8. Find out more about these and other ways you can take action on Spirit Day in the GLAAD and Campus Pride’s Spirit Day Kit below!
9. Share your plans with GLAAD at http://www.glaad.org/spiritday/endorse!
Already finished with college?
In addition to engaging people at your job and in your community to participate in Spirit Day, you can also contact your alma mater and ask them to go purple by sharing the above information!
Please join GLAAD and the many individuals, celebrities, corporations, media outlets, schools, local communities, and even national landmarks in spreading the message of Spirit Day! Together, we can help put an end to bullying.
GLAAD and GSA Network Spirit Day Kit:
On a mobile device? View the full kit here.
