The TV landscape will take on a purple hue tomorrow when scores of media corporations, networks, outlets, and personalities take a stand against bullying and support LGBT youth. They will join countless landmarks, major professional sports leagues, organizations, companies, and millions of Americans by participating in Spirit Day on October 19.
You can join us for Spirit Day by RSVPing on Facebook to wear purple on October 19 and going purple today on Facebook and Twitter.
“From sports leagues to faith institutions to national monuments, schools and celebrities, millions of Americans will unite this week in an extraordinary show of support for LGBT youth and in a stand against bullying,” said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “At a time when 8 out of 10 LGBT youth report being harassed at school, it’s now more important than ever that we let every young person know that it’s okay to be who you are.”
Media companies and networks across the TV dial will be participating on-air, online, through network talent and social media, and with employee engagement efforts. These include:
ABC
ABC Family
BET
CBS
CMT
Comcast
E!
Logo
MTV
NBC Universal
Paramount Pictures
The Sundance Channel
TeenNick
Telemundo
TLC
TV Land
Univision
VH1
Viacom
In addition, VH1.com, LogoTV.com and NewNowNext.com, will feature stories and never-before-seen "It Gets Better" clips. MTV will also turn its 44 ½ high-definition screen in Times Square purple for the day.
Hosts of a number of talk shows will wear purple on-air on the 19th including:
Good Morning America
Watch What Happens Live (Andy Cohen is going purple for tonight’s show)
Access Hollywood
CNBC
E! News
Extra
The Talk
Jimmy Kimmel Live
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Wendy Williams Show
Hosts and staff of Chelsea Lately will be tweeting #SpiritDay messages as well.
The number of participating performers and celebrities has already risen to more than a hundred names, and includes Spirit Day ambassadors Dianna Agron, Perez Hilton, Avan Jogia, Shay Mitchell, Shaquille O’Neal, Maria Menounos, George Takei and Wendy Williams. Just a few of the additional names include:
Chaz Bono
Ian McKellan
Reba McEntire
Ricky Martin
Chely Wright
Bernadette Peters
Joel McHale
Kerry Washington
Shonda Rhimes
Paris Hilton
Kathy Griffin
Fran Drescher
Cheyenne Jackson
The cast of Elementary
The cast of Degrassi
The cast of Jersey Shore
The full list of famous face taking part in Spirit Day can be found here, while fans can learn how to help get their favorite celebrities on board by clicking here.
In an unprecedented show of support, GLAAD today announced that the six most prominent American major sports leagues -- The National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS) and NASCAR's diversity program -- will all ‘go purple’ for Spirit Day, in addition to a number of professional athletes and sports organizations. You can find the full list of sports participants here.
The 'Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign' will be turned purple and several hotels on the Las Vegas strip will light their marquees purple with an anti-bullying message, GLAAD previously announced with R&R Partners Foundation. In addition, the Duke Energy Tower in Charlotte, NC will join the New York Stock Exchange, Thomson Reuters’ Times Square screen, the LAX Pylon Lights and JFK traffic tower in lighting up purple for Spirit Day on October 19. Check out all the major landmarks going purple here.
The above participants join countless other corporate partners, schools and colleges, faith leaders, and organizations in taking a stand against bullying and supporting LGBT young people.