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GLAAD leads millions in a stand against bullying for Spirit Day
On Thursday, October 16, millions of people all across the world joined GLAAD in "going purple" for Spirit Day in a united stand against bullying and to show their support for LGBT youth. America's morning shows were decked in purple for Spirit Day, including hosts of NBC's "Today Show." Viacom showed its spirit across the company's networks, and other TV networks like ABC Family, CNBC, HBO, MSNBC, and OWN also took a stand against bullying. Across the country, dozens of landmarks—including the Empire State Building with Laverne Cox's help--went purple, urging millions of passerby to support LGBT youth. Schools, celebrities, organizations, sports teams, media outlets, and public officials are also among those to participate every year. 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 partners American Eagle Outfitters and Kirkland & Ellis. Read more here.
GLAAD staff rings NASDAQ opening bell for #spiritday
To culminate Spirit Day, GLAAD staff rang the NASDAQ opening bell, where GLAAD's Vice President of Programs, Zeke Stokes, noted, "How appropriate it is that we conclude this 24 hours of standing up for LGBT youth - Spirit Day 2014 - not at the end of a day, but at the beginning of a new one." Participating in the event brought the issue of anti-LGBT bullying to Times Square and national outlets, including CNBC, and showed America that equality is a good investment. Watch the video here.
GLAAD partners with groups to amplify equality-affirming voices in the Vatican
GLAAD helped provide an LGBT and Catholic-affirming commentary to the Vatican's Extraordinary Synod on Marriage and Family. GLAAD worked with partners like New Ways Ministry and Dignity USA to ensure that pro-LGBT Catholic voices were a part of the discussion. Director of News Ross Murray also spoke to the International Business Times and to the Arlene Bynon Show on SiriusXM about church and LGBT relations. Read more here.
GLAAD launches video series, kicks off with Laverne Cox
GLAAD launched "GLAAD: All Access," an online video series that features interviews with newsmakers, hit-makers, and people making a difference for LGBT equality. For the premiere episode, host Claire Pires, GLAAD's Video & News Strategist, sat down with Emmy-nominated actress Laverne Cox to discuss her documentary, "Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word," which introduced millions of viewers to transgender youth making a difference. Watch the video here.
UN makes Spirit Day history
United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, went purple for Spirit Day, along with High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid. The men shared their support via Twitter and showed off their purple ties. It was the first time that the United Nations officials participated in the campaign.The Secretary General also spoke about Spirit Day during a press briefing and made a point to show off his purple socks. In his remarks, he also took the time to highlight the UN's Free and Equal campaign. Read more here.
Anti-bullying in the African-American LGBT community
GLAAD's Senior News Media Strategist Tiq Milan wrote an article for EBONY.com about the importance of anti-bullying in the African-American LGBT community and the effect that it has on LGBT youth. He was also interviewed on BET.com about Spirit Day, . Tiq shed light on struggles within the black LGBT youth community and offered advice of how to avoid bullying within the community going forward.
Raul Alcaraz Ochoa's op-ed sheds light on LGBT immigrant community
GLAAD's Spanish-Language Media team helped place Raul Alcaraz Ochoa's powerful op-ed on Advocate.com. Raul shed light on some of the challenges faced by LGBT immigrants in detention. This op-ed addressed an issue often overlooked about what it's like to be an LGBT immgrant in detention. Ochoa cofounded the Mariposas Sin Fronteras to aid LGBT detainees and get them the support that they need.
Hetrick-Martin Institute youth recall times they were bullied in moving video for Spirit Day
For this year's Spirit Day, GLAAD's Video & News Strategist, Claire Pires, filmed and edited a video featuring over a dozen courageous LGBT youth from the Hetrick-Martin Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping LGBT youth, recalling times they were bullied and how it affected them, using close-up, intimate shots. The video was featured on news outlets, such as Al Jazeera America and MSNBC. Watch the video here.
Out for Undergrad Business Conference helps allies of transgender and gender non-conforming people
Senior Strategist Tiq Milan, sat on the Gender Diversity panel at the Out for Undergrad Businesss Conference, a two-day conference that gives LGBT students opportunities to meet and connect with business professionals at high-level firms, to help LGBT finance students be better transgender allies. Keynote speakers for the annual conference included Susie Scher from Goldman-Sachs and Lord John Browne, former CEO of BP.
Colombia-based international news network, NTN24, covers marriage equality with GLAAD
GLAAD’s Director of Spanish-Language Media, Monica Trasandes, was interviewed by the news channel Nuestra Tele Noticias 24 Horas (NTN24) about the recent Supreme Court decision on marriage equality appeals and the future of marriage equality in the United States in the next year. NTN24 is a Colombia-based international news organization and their programming is viewed both in the United States and Latin America.
Despierta America covers Tony Lima's story with help from GLAAD
GLAAD’s Director of Spanish-Language Media, Monica Trasandes, worked with the producers of Univision's highly-rated program, "Despierta América" to prepare Tony Lima, executive director of SAVE Dade, a grassroots LGBT equality organization based in South Florida, for the interview on the daytime talk show. He provided a humanistic approach to marriage equality for the millions of Latino viewers who tuned in.
Southern California Gay-Straight Alliance prepares for Spirit Day
GLAAD's Spanish-Language Media team worked with youth leaders and alumni from the Southern California Gay-Straight Alliance, which represents over four hundred middle and high schools and academies from throughout the Southern Califiornia region, in preparation for Spirit Day. Many of the youth recorded Spirit Day messages in Spanish for a video that GLAAD sent out for publication.
Hulu's front page highlights LGBT-inclusive programming for Spirit Day
Streaming TV service Hulu celebrated Spirit Day with a special selection of LGBT-inclusive films, TV series, and documentaries highlighted on their front page. Hulu's highlighted programming included GLAAD Media Award recipients Glee and My So-Called Life, as well as Hulu exclusive series East Los High. The cast of East Los High also shared special video messages for Spirit Day in support of LGBT youth.
Op-edon Brazil's LGBT-inclusive movie
Director of Entertainment Media, Matt Kane, published an op-ed on Advocate.com on the importance of Brazil submitting LGBT-inclusive The Way He Looks for the 2015 Academy Awards' Best Foreign Language Film category. "Storytelling is one of the greatest agents of social change because it gives people the chance to look at the world from someone else's perspective, while also illustrating an inherent shared humanity," he wrote. Read more here.
GLAAD calls on New York Court of Appeals to value trans lives
Strategist Dani Heffernan worked with the family of murdered trans woman Lateisha Green, bringing attention to a New York Court of Appeals hearing on whether to reinstate the hate crime conviction against her alleged killer. GLAAD also worked with Lateisha's mother to place her essay about the hearing on The Huffington Post. The hearing's ruling will have implications on how the legal system devalues transgender women of color's lives. Read more here.
TV casts and hosts rock purple for Spirit Day
GLAAD's Entertainment Media team worked closely with TV networks and casts of different shows to send a special video message of support to LGBT youth. Major series including The Fosters and Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family), Orphan Black (BBC America), and Orange is the New Black (Netflix) got the word out about Spirit Day and took a stand against bullying. GLAAD also worked with several morning and late shows including Good Morning Americaand Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Spanish-Language media covers Spirit Day
Director of Spanish-Language Media Monica Trasandes did several Spanish-language television interviews on Spirit Day to call attention to anti-LGBT bullying. She was on the nationally televised nightly news Noticiero Univision, which averages about 2 million viewers per night and on Un Nuevo Día, the morning show from leading television network, Telemundo. While in Miami, Monica also spoke with local community members about best practices when addressing LGBT issues.
Creating webinar to improve trans-related coverage
Strategist Dani Heffernan worked with Basic Rights Oregon on creating an informational webinar for local media in Oregon about respectful news coverage of transgender-related stories. The webinar covered respectful terminology, stereotypes to avoid, and brought attention to issues facing the transgender community in Oregon. This training will help ensure that Oregonians see fair and accurate stories of transgender people in their state.
Tackling bullying on radio stations across the country
GLAAD's Spanish-Language Media team appeared on radio stations to talk about bullying, Amazon's Transparent and LGBT equality. Monica Trasandes appeared on Enrique Santos's show for Univision in Miami on Spirit Day, on Radio WADO for Univision Radio in New York, and with Aileen Ocana on Univision Radio in Chicago. Spanish-Language Media Strategist Janet Arelis Quezada discussed Transparent on Al Aire Con Tsi-Tsi-Ki on Chicago's Univision Radio and BBC Mundo.
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