The cast of ABC Family's comedy Baby Daddy will be wearing purple on October 16 for Spirit Day. The show's stars Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Derek Theler, Chelsea Kane, Tahj Mowry, and Melissa Peterman recorded a message of support for LGBT youth.
Baby Daddy, which will air its Halloween episode on October 22, tells the story of a single dad, Ben (Bilodeau), raising his daughter Emma with the help of his brother Danny (Theler), their roommate Tucker (Mowry), their friend Riley (Kane) and Ben and Danny's mom, Bonnie (Peterman). In the first season Ben and Danny's dad, Ray (Greg Grunberg) came out as gay.
More casts from ABC Family's original series will be 'going purple' in coming days. Additionally, the network's series will 'go purple’ on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for Spirit Day.
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.
GLAAD, GLSEN and Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center are partnering with the Disney ABC Television Group for the Choose Kindness campaign. For National Bullying Prevention month Disney's Be Inspired website will include resources for children, teens, and parents about how to prevent bullying.
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.