Kristen Johnston, star of TV Land's The Exes is asking fans to join her in going purple on October 16 for Spirit Day.
The Exes follows divorce attorney Holly and the three divorced men who share an apartment in the building she owns. Along with her legal assistant Eden and the local bartender Nikki, Holly and her tenants laugh, drink and argue their way through life. In the video Johnston asks that on Spirit Day people wear purple in support of LGBT youth. Take a look below:
Millions wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for LGBT youth and to speak out against bullying. Spirit Day was started in 2010 as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. With GLAAD’s help, Spirit Day has since garnered widespread support from celebrities, TV news and entertainment programs, corporations, organizations, schools, local communities, and even national landmarks. Spirit Day coincides with GLSEN’s Ally Week, as well as National Bullying Prevention Month.
According to GLSEN's 2011 National School Climate Survey, 63.5% of LGBT students reported feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, 43.9% because of their gender expression. GLSEN also reported that 81.9% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation, and 63.9% because of their gender expression.
Spirit Day, which will take place on October 16, inspires millions to wear purple or ‘go purple’ online in a united stand against bullying and to show their support for LGBT youth.
For more information and ways to participate, visit the Spirit Day page.