SI LifeStyle

Go Purple for Spirit Day Today and Support the LGBTQ+ Community

Plus, take the GLAAD pledge to take a stand against bullying.

Cara O’Bleness

Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox.

Today, Thursday, Oct. 19, is Spirit Day, a global anti-bullying movement created by GLAAD that supports LGBTQ+ youth. Supporters are encouraged to wear purple to show their love for the community while taking a stand against bullying.

Yesterday, actress and activist Laverne Cox lit the Empire State Building purple in honor of the occasion, in partnership with Sally Hansen, CoverGirl and GLAAD. In 2014, Cox became the first openly transgender individual to land the cover of TIME magazine. The Emmy Award-winning actress was also named among Glamour’s Women of the Year the same year.

“[Spirit Day] is a day to bring awareness to the bullying that happens to far too many LGBTQI+ youth and we ask everyone to wear purple, to go purple tomorrow, in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ youth,” the Orange Is the New Black star stated on Instagram. “It’s more important than ever now. Bullying, it’s something I experienced every day of my life growing up in Alabama. I was chased home from school every day, I was called names by the other kids, it was hell. It was hell, it really was. I would love to exist in a world where that did not have to happen to another child. I would really love to live in that kind of world, and that’s what we’re trying to bring awareness to.”

Spirit Day was started in 2010 and has since become the most visible anti-bullying movement in the world. In addition to wearing purple today, you can support LGBTQ+ youth by taking the pledge to stand against bullying or donating a one-time or monthly monetary gift here.

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Cara O’Bleness

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara is a trending news writer/editor for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. A passionate writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience in print and online media, she loves storytelling and believes that words have the power to change the world. Prior to joining the team, Cara worked as a writer and editor across a number of content verticals, including food, lifestyle, health and wellness, and small business and entrepreneurship. In her free time, Cara loves reading, spending time with her family and making her way through Michigan’s many microbreweries. She is a graduate of Michigan State University's School of Journalism.