GLAAD releases new short film for Spirit Day
GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, has released a short film for Spirit Day.
In the film, the main character, Jake, walks through school recounting many things that have changed over the summer since they were last at school. Then Jake walks into a classroom, saying, “As for me, I’m about to introduce myself as Jake for the very first time. And now, everyone can see the real me, finally.”
The video sends a powerful message of support to trans youth during a year when an unprecedented number of anti-trans bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the U.S., many targeting trans and nonbinary youth in sports, healthcare, and education. On October 17, the Texas Senate passed a new bill barring transgender children, kindergarten through 12th grade, from participating in school sports on teams consistent with their gender identity.
On Spirit Day, millions of people around the world will wear purple or go purple online in a unified stand against bullying and to show support for LGBTQ youth. Purple symbolizes ‘spirit’ on the rainbow flag. Each year, Spirit Day draws the participation of celebrities, corporations, media outlets, sports leagues, schools, faith institutions, national landmarks, and individuals.
To see GLAAD’s list of 2020 Spirit Day participants including celebrities, media, athletes, and landmarks, click here.
Spirit Day takes on a renewed importance due to the unprecedented challenges facing LGBTQ youth today. Over the last year and a half, many LGBTQ youth have not been in school, unable to attend in-person meetings of Gay-Straight Alliances, Gender-Sexuality Alliances or on-campus colleges LGBTQ organizations.
During this time, LGBTQ youth have also become increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of cyberbullying, specifically with heightened levels of anti-LGBTQ hate and harassment on social media. Some LGBTQ youth may be confined to a home environment that may be unsupportive or abusive. Calls to The Trevor Project’s hotline for LGBTQ youth have at times more than doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
For more information visit glaad.org/spiritday and follow #SpiritDay.
