spirit dayThursday, Oct. 15, is Spirit Day when people wear purple to support LGBT youth fight bullying.
According to GLAAD’s statistics, 55 percent of LGBT students feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and 38 percent because of their gender identity.
The bullying isn’t just coming from other students — 51 percent of LGBT students have heard homophobic remarks from teachers or staff. In addition, 49 percent of LGBT students report experiencing cyberbullying, 36 percent have been harassed in school because of their sexuasl orientation and 16 percent were physically assaulted. nd because of fear of reprisals, more than half don’t report the attacks.
Spirit Day started in 2010 as a response to a growing number of teen suicides as a result of bullying. Purple on the Rainbow Flag represents spirit, which is how the day got its name.
GLAAD offers resource kits to help students, parents and educators stand up to bullying.