The cast of Melissa & Joey is taking a stand against bullying for Spirit Day this Thursday, October 16. Melissa Joan Hart, Joey Lawrence and Taylor Spreitler recorded a message of support to LGBT youth.
The ABC Family comedy, which will air its Halloween episode on October 22, follows Mel (Hart), a local politician who, due to a family scandal, takes in her niece Lennox (Spreitler) and nephew Ryder (Nick Robinson). Mel hires Joey (Lawrence), a down on his luck financial broker, to be her nanny.
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. Taylor Spreitler is also asking fans to choose kindness to put an end to bullying.
Last week the casts of Baby Daddy and Chasing Life went purple, and more casts from ABC Family's original series will join them 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.
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.