Viacom and its channels, including MTV, Logo TV, VH1, TVLand, BET, Tr3s, Comedy Central, and CMT, thoroughly rocked purple on air and off for LGBT youth in a strong stand against bullying for GLAAD's Spirit Day yesterday.
Viacom started the day off with a bang when Emmy-nominated actress Laverne Cox and the cast of Logo TV's "Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word" joined GLAAD to light the Empire State Building in purple, and Laverne was flawless as always.
The documentary, which premieres on MTV and Logo TV tonight at 7pm ET/PT, takes an intersectional look at the lives of seven transgender youth across America. "The T Word" is part of MTV's "Look Different" campaign, which aims to fight race, gender and LGBT bias by providing information, education and avenues to action. GLAAD has worked closely with the cast and networks leading up to the premiere.
Also on Spirit Day, Paramount Pictures hosted an event at Helen Bernstein High School to lead a constructive, personal dialogue about the impact of bullying. Elsewhere, groundbreaking LGBT advocates Edie Windsor and Roberta Kaplan, the winning plaintiff and attorney team in the case brought federal recognition of marriage equality to the United States, took part in MTV's Pioneers Speakers series, to be hosted by MTV and Logo TV President Stephen Friedman.
Additionaly, networks including MTV, MTV2, mtvU, VH1, Logo TV, TVLand, and Comedy Central turned their iconic logos purple on air for the campaign -- not to mention Viacom's electronic jumbo billboard in Times Square. Stars and shows brought their purple A-game online and on the small screen, too. The hosts of VH!'s "Big Morning Buzz" and Gossip Table," and BET's "106 & Park" brought awareness about anti-LGBT bullying to their millions of viewers, as Logo TV ran Spirit Day ads and relevant documentaries all day long.
Check out just a few of the other ways your favorite Viacom stars, shows, and channels stood up for LGBT youth:
Here's what is & is not ok to ask your transgender friends: http://t.co/SPi2QRyVKz#SpiritDay
— MTV News (@MTVNews) October 16, 2014
Me and #MamaMcCall on #SpiritDay#allpurple#allloved#TeenWolf@MTVteenwolfpic.twitter.com/euT5wGvzhE
— Melissa Ponzio (@MelissaPonzio1) October 16, 2014
Happy to join @LookDifferent for #spiritday ! The only way we will end bullying is through #transformativejustice :) pic.twitter.com/vxXGMHq8eN
— DarkMatter (@DarkMatterRage) October 16, 2014
13 Important Facts About The 'T' In #LGBT: http://t.co/n8BWcp0A4B#SpiritDaypic.twitter.com/hDebvn7oJl
— MTV Act (@MTVact) October 16, 2014
.@IssaRae YOU SHINE in purple (and always)! #SpiritDay#GoodLookpic.twitter.com/0fm7TwGlTS
— Look Different (@LookDifferent) October 16, 2014
We proudly support @GLAAD#SpiritDay by saying NO to bullying while supporting LGBT youth http://t.co/PRhoSr6LC9pic.twitter.com/rzW5qHBpqQ
— VH1 (@VH1) October 16, 2014
Viacom goes purple for #SpiritDayhttp://t.co/8RtC8OWdAV
— Viacom (@Viacom) October 16, 2014
Stand against bullying! Wear purple and make your profile pic purple for #spiritday 10/16 at http://t.co/rfPnB9Njtc#LGBT
— Viacom (@Viacom) October 16, 2014
Take a stand against bullying and join us in celebrating #SpiritDay! #GoPurple
— TV Land (@tvland) October 16, 2014
See how even more MTV celebs went purple yesterday.
The gang at @LogoTV and @NewNowNext dressed up for #SpiritDay. We showed you our purple, now you show us yours! pic.twitter.com/o6YaxizYUg
— NewNowNext (@NewNowNext) October 16, 2014
LOVE! #SpiritDay@glaadpic.twitter.com/Rs2jTo8ow6
— Logo TV (@LogoTV) October 16, 2014
Spirit Day, which took 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. Each year, Spirit Day draws the participation of celebrities, corporations, media outlets, sports leagues, schools, faith institutions, national landmarks, and individuals. Spirit Day is made possible by the generous support of its national partners PepsiCo and Wells Fargo, as well as official partners Comcast-NBCUniversal and Google, and supporting partner American Eagle Outfitters.
Check out glaad.org/spiritday for more about how to stand against anti-LGBT bullying and follow @GLAAD on Twitter to keep up to date with #spiritday news!