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Millions expected to dress in purple, in person and online, for Spirit Day 2014

Millions expected to dress in purple, in person and online, for Spirit Day 2014

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Millions of LGBT people and their allies will dress in purple on Thursday — both in person and online — to mark the fifth annual Spirit Day, a day demonstrate support for LGBT youth and to speak out against bullying.

Now observed annually, millions of individuals, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals and celebrities are expected to wear purple on Thursday, and color their social media profiles purple as well.

GLAAD offers these tips for participating in this year’s Spirit Day:

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An estimated 1.6 million people around the world observed the first Spirit Day in October 2010, following the deaths of numerous young LGBTQ people, who committed suicide after enduring years of anti-gay bullying.

In response, Canadian teenager Brittany McMillan campaigned on social media websites, encouraging people to wear purple to demonstrate support for LGBT young people who are victims of bullying.

The annual observance, now spearheaded by GLAAD, occurs every year on the third Thursday in October, during National Bullying Prevention Month, and has become the most visible day of support for LGBT youth.

The color purple was chosen because it symbolizes “spirit” on the Rainbow Flag.

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