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around the world to know that they are supported by their communities." Additionally, GLAAD's VP of
Programming, Zeke Stokes, shared the appreciation by saying that the words and pictures that come from a holiday like Spirit Day, illustrates the love and compassion towards the LGBTQ community, leading to youths living their authentic lives. McMillan stated that she is trying to find ways to keep Spirit Day going since the internet and social media continue to change.
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190:
In 2013, support grew to involve the White House, Oprah
Winfrey, Ashton Kutcher, MTV, OWN, Logo, Sundance, Facebook, and others. During the 2013 holiday, "The White House tweeted using #SpiritDay and directed followers to stopbullying.gov." Additionally, many celebrities changed their social media
129:
In 2016, a few years after Spirit Day became an official LGBT holiday, McMillan reflected saying, "It's the participants that make Spirit Day what it is; they create their own events and their own art, all in the name of showing LGBTQ young people that they care… I know how much it means to people
142:
to create the first ever Spirit Day. McMillan said about the event, "Ultimately, I want Spirit Day to make just one person feel a little bit better about his or herself, to feel safe enough in their own skin to be proud of who they are." McMillan has said that she took inspiration from
77:
The first observance took place on
Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Later observances were held on Thursday, October 20, 2011, and Friday, October 19, 2012, before the tradition of the third Thursday of October was established in 2013.
191:
platforms to reflect the LGBT holiday. American
Apparel posted a separate store for Spirit Day where shoppers would receive 10% select purple items and the company would donate 10% to benefit GLAAD's work towards equality.
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when creating Spirit Day's signature purple color. Since 2010, Brittany, with the help of GLAAD, has inspired many celebrities, companies, and schools to wear purple and stand up against bullying.
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198:, a transgender actress and activist, went to New York City and hosted an event in which she helped turn the lights on that were strung on the
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202:. In support for Spirit Day, she said, "All of our children need to feel safe to be themselves at home, school and in our communities."
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wore purple on this day to show their support of the cause, and many websites added a prominent purple shade to their design. On
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255:" (Purple Friday). The Gender Sexuality Alliance Network has continued to celebrate the observance annually since then.
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school board, posted incendiary anti-homosexual remarks on
Facebook. McCance ultimately apologised and resigned on the
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Further national and international attention was drawn to Spirit Day when Clint McCance, the vice-president of an
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421:"Thanks for supporting #LGBT youth and standing up to bullying for #SpiritDay 10/19! http://glaad.org/spiritday"
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487:"October 20, 2010 Spirit Day—the Day to Wear Purple by Lindsay Christ—Long Island Free Press October 20, 2010"
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946:[This Was Purple Friday 2015...] (in Dutch). Gay-Straight Alliance Netwerk (Netherlands)
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teenager
Brittany McMillan, it was initially created in response to a rash of widely publicized
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Through the many celebrations that have happened since 2010, some notable celebrities include,
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65:, observers wear the color purple as a visible sign of support for LGBTQ youth and against
93:, event pages created for the observance attracted more than 1.6 million users worldwide.
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during
National Bullying Prevention Month, as well as to honor LGBTQ victims of suicide.
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184:
110:; however, he received further criticism for what many perceived to be an insincere
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Brittany McMillan was a high school student in 2010 when she started working with
896:"#SpiritDay reaches more than 150 million with message of support for LGBT youth"
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119:
420:
707:"Clint McCance, Arkansas School Board Member, Resigns On 'Anderson Cooper 360'"
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The name "Spirit Day" comes from an association with the purple stripe of the
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681:"Clint McCance, Arkansas School Board Member, Wants 'Fags' To Commit Suicide"
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763:"On Anderson Cooper, Dr. Phil Isn't Buying Clint McCance's 'Non-Apology'"
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817:"Spirit Day founder Brittany McMillan on campaign's success, growth"
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871:"Laverne Cox Lighting Empire State Building Purple For Spirit Day"
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Spirit Day now occurs every year on the third
Thursday in October
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observed on the third
Thursday in October. Started in 2010 by
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924:[Purple Friday] (in Dutch). Gender Sexuality Alliance
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62:
43:
646:"Dr. Phil slams Arkansas official for 'non-apology apology'"
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interview. McCance submitted his resignation letter to the
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653:
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620:"Spirit Day rallies support for gay and lesbian youths"
367:"Spirit Day to honor recent homosexual suicide victims"
842:"All about Spirit Day's Brittany McMillan! #SpiritDay"
214:, which represents "spirit" according to flag creator
760:
81:
After the inaugural observance received promotion by
788:"Ark. school board member quits after anti-gay rant"
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566:"Spirit Day: Facebook Users Wear Purple – ABC News"
57:of gay school students in 2010, including that of
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338:"Bullies can't stand up to the power of purple"
704:
639:
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309:
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761:On Top Magazine Staff (October 31, 2010).
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514:"Why Wearing Purple Will Protest Bullying"
443:"Go Purple on October 17th for #SpiritDay"
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150:
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396:. GLAAD. October 27, 2011. Archived from
394:"Spirit Day Recap with Brittany McMillan"
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796:. The Associated Press. November 1, 2010
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230:
154:
617:
533:"October 20 is Spirit Day in Hollywood"
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732:"Dr. Phil Slams McCance "Non-Apology""
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512:Detweiler, Margit (October 19, 2010).
484:
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32:International STAND UP to Bullying Day
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863:
815:Yohannes, Alamin (October 20, 2016).
564:Heussner, Ki Mae (October 20, 2010).
531:Canaya, Audriana (October 20, 2010).
489:. Longislandpress.com. Archived from
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251:named the second Friday of December "
987:Recurring events established in 2010
485:Christ, Lindsay (October 20, 2010).
133:
23:. For the religious observance, see
13:
860:
738:. October 30, 2010. Archived from
705:Mirkinson, J. (October 29, 2010).
365:Wackrow, Kyle (October 10, 2010).
336:Potter, Chuck (October 23, 2010).
293:, a similar day held in Australia.
14:
1023:
982:LGBTQ events in the United States
618:Johnson, Tim (October 20, 2010).
591:"Gay teens honored on Spirit Day"
944:"DIT WAS PAARSE VRIJDAG 2015..."
644:Stewart, M. (October 29, 2010).
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167:recognising Spirit Day in 2016
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679:Wing, N. (October 27, 2010).
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19:For other LGBT holidays, see
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126:effective November 1, 2010.
7:
793:The San Diego Union-Tribune
419:@glaad (October 20, 2012).
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221:
10:
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29:
18:
16:Annual LGBTQ awareness day
1012:LGBTQ-related observances
1002:International observances
346:. New London, Connecticut
55:bullying-related suicides
124:Midlands School District
30:Not to be confused with
622:. Burlington Free Press
445:. GLAAD. Archived from
151:Celebrity participation
145:Canada's Pink Shirt Day
992:Unofficial observances
977:LGBTQ events in Canada
463:. GLAAD. June 28, 2016
317:. GLAAD. June 28, 2016
244:
168:
972:2010 in LGBTQ history
239:dressed in purple on
234:
200:Empire State Building
158:
21:List of LGBT holidays
848:. September 13, 2012
520:on October 22, 2010.
449:on October 17, 2013.
107:Anderson Cooper 360°
997:October observances
742:on November 1, 2010
660:on October 31, 2010
650:Anderson Cooper 360
545:on October 22, 2010
493:on October 22, 2010
400:on October 21, 2016
237:Het Baarnsch Lyceum
112:non-apology apology
902:. October 18, 2013
711:huffingtonpost.com
685:huffingtonpost.com
599:. October 20, 2010
461:"About #SpiritDay"
315:"About #SpiritDay"
291:Wear it Purple Day
247:In December 2010,
245:
212:rainbow pride flag
169:
185:Kristin Chenoweth
159:Baseball players
134:Brittany McMillan
114:, including from
85:, many Hollywood
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61:. Promoted by
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1007:Awareness days
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47:awareness day
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42:is an annual
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25:Spirit Monday
22:
948:. Retrieved
938:
928:December 13,
926:. Retrieved
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904:. Retrieved
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740:the original
736:advocate.com
726:
714:. Retrieved
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658:the original
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596:ABS-CBN News
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585:
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547:. Retrieved
543:the original
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518:the original
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491:the original
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437:
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398:the original
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376:. Retrieved
370:
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348:. Retrieved
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319:. Retrieved
273:LGBTQ portal
252:
246:
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236:
235:Students of
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950:October 20,
800:October 21,
772:November 1,
746:November 1,
716:November 1,
690:November 1,
664:November 1,
626:October 26,
603:October 26,
575:October 26,
549:December 5,
497:December 5,
467:October 20,
404:October 20,
378:October 21,
350:October 23,
227:Netherlands
196:Laverne Cox
118:in a later
87:celebrities
966:Categories
538:Neon Tommy
298:References
161:Billy Bean
40:Spirit Day
906:March 27,
880:March 27,
875:LOGO News
852:March 27,
826:March 27,
206:Symbolism
194:In 2014,
821:NBC News
570:ABC News
281:Bullying
259:See also
222:Variants
116:Dr. Phil
104:program
98:Arkansas
91:Facebook
67:bullying
51:Canadian
654:cnn.com
429:Twitter
343:The Day
73:History
767:On Top
183:, and
900:GLAAD
846:GLAAD
425:Tweet
286:LGBTQ
140:GLAAD
83:GLAAD
63:GLAAD
44:LGBTQ
952:2016
930:2019
908:2017
882:2017
854:2017
828:2017
802:2021
774:2010
748:2010
718:2010
692:2010
666:2010
628:2010
605:2010
577:2010
551:2013
499:2013
469:2016
406:2016
380:2021
352:2010
323:2024
243:2013
163:and
652:at
102:CNN
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