It seemed like the world turned purple on October 17th. So…did you wear or share purple on Spirit Day?
An unprecedented amount of celebrities (http://www.glaad.org/blog/celebs-showing-support-lgbt-youth-spiritday) and participants took part in celebrating Spirit Day’s anti-bullying mindset and campaign for peace.
Most notably, the #SpiritDay thought stream on Twitter, experienced a flurry of activity with somewhat minimal and hardly noticeable newsjacking and hashtag jumping occurring between the many supportive updates and social shares. Unfortunately anti-gay and anti-trans* push back was still somewhat present, but the signal-to-noise ratio tipped in favor of the celebrations at hand.
Atlanta, Georgia is home to one of the US’ largest LGBTQ populations. Still, Atlanta Braves fans were anything but brave (apparently they misunderstood the holiday, when the Atlanta Braves tweeted their support…) tweets such as this began to set things aright:
Ryan Eades @ryan2499 Stay classy #Braves fans. As a #Nats fan I knew you were jerks, but I guess we’ll add hateful bigots to your rep too http://j.mp/1d1UKUX
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Here at Gay Agenda, we thought it would be appropriate to continue to share the beauty and joy of the holiday—to continue to amplify Spirit Day’s positive message.
Here are a few highlights from the may tweeted #SpiritDay messages and social shares (which are still multiplying and streaming as you’re reading this!), with a couple of Facebook updates thrown in for good measure.
A Tran’s Bay Bike Shop / Tammy Powers’ Facebook Update:
(via Tammy’s personal account.)
“This just happened earlier tonight… One of my shop rats (who’s 9 years old) has been in a lot lately needing his bike fixed for repeated little crap. So I ask him, “Demoinet what keeps happening to your bike?” He says that he lets his friends borrow his bike and that whenever they borrow it they always return it messed up. He then asks me, “Tammy, do your friends ever do that to your bike?” I told him no way. He had a puzzled look on his face, so I continued, “If and when I let my friends borrow my bike, as I’m handing the bike to them, I tell them, ‘You break my bike, I break your face.’ ” He just looked at me with not much of a reaction. So I continue working on his bike. Unbeknownst to me, he has slipped out of my shop and just outside my shop in the hallway, I hear his little boy’s voice… “You break my bike, I break your face.” He was out there practicing! I was in my shop laughing my ass off! He comes back in as I’m finishing his bike, and he thanks me sincerely and says. “Thanks Tammy, I’m gonna do that next time.” Tammy’s school of anti-bullying. — Feeling Amused. 
GLAAD @glaad Share your #SpiritDay photos and stories with us using the #SpiritDay tag http://glaad.org/spiritday 12:04 AM – 18 Oct 13 ·
@TransBound: I am #Bisexual and I am against bullying. #SpiritDay 10/17/2013! http://tmblr.co/Z8wY6wxwSqBG #TeamBisexual #BiPride #LGBTQ #LGBT
♡Janine Giske♡ | @Josamey44 | @glaad Chuck Taylors all around #SpiritDay Awesome day/event to raise awareness and #StopBullying. Everyday should be #SpiritDay #LGBTYouth
The White House @WhiteHouse 16hRT if you agree no child should have to face bullying because of who they are—then learn how you can help: http://StopBullying.gov #SpiritDayRetweeted by GLAAD
GLAAD @glaad GUEST POST for #SpiritDay: “That’s So Gay” Why Words Matter http://www.glaad.org/blog/guest-post-spiritday-thats-so-gay-why-words-matter … @MauriceJamalC 3:18 PM – 17 Oct 13 ·
Little Big Town @LBTmusic 8hFeeling thankful for all the beauty in life! It takes all kinds of kinds. -@PhillipSweet #SpiritDay http://glaad.org/spiritday t7:16 PM – 17 Oct 13 ·
@chrisbrown Acceptance is strong. Bullying is weak. Stay strong Team Breezy! #SpiritDay glaad.org/spiritday 5:37pm · 17 Oct 13 [Chris Brown's recent childhood abuse situation makes this a surprising and hopeful tweet.]
Mary Lambert @marylambertsing It does get better. But some days it still hurts. I got your back. #SPIRITDAY #GLAAD http://instagram.com/p/fk6iX1LzhZ/
@CakeBossBuddy Join me in going purple for #SpiritDay to stand up against bullying and to support LGBT youth! http://glaad.org/spiritday 8:11 AM – 17 Oct 2013
@MTV We’ve slipped into something a little more…purple? Celebs like @JENNIWOWW @KeshaSuxx + more rep for #SpiritDay! http://on.mtv.com/GZPEec 8:30 AM – 17 Oct 2013
Faith Walcott Aine @faith_walcott spiritday was yesterday but same message applies today. #STOPBULLYING
@WendyWilliams Bullying is never in style – that’s why I’m wearing purple on #SpiritDay 10/17! Join me and take a stand at http://glaad.org/spiritday 7:02 AM – 17 Oct 2013
GLAAD @glaad As #SpiritDay 2013 comes to an end, we hope you carry it’s message on. http://glaad.org/spiritday 8:37 PM – 17 Oct 13 ·
“Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”
- James Baldwin [quoted via @Glaad on Spirit Day.]
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Though the #SpiritDay celebration hashtag is slowly fading into more general “school spirit” sentiments, LGBTQ-inclusive spirit lives on! There are many, many more encouraging anti-bullying messages, images, photos and videos to experience: type the hashtag #SpiritDay at Google Plus, Facebook and Twitter, and find yourself inspired.
Check out the major Tech companies who showed their support: http://www.glaad.org/blog/tech-giants-stand-against-bullying-show-their-support-spiritday
Find more celebrity support here: http://www.advocate.com/youth/no-more-bullying/2013/10/18/who-wore-purple-spiritday
It’s not just celebrities who create positive change and lasting influence. Everyone’s a star: http://www.glaad.org/blog/hey-its-not-just-celebrities-going-purple-spiritday
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Click here to read more about Spirit Day at GayAgenda.com – http://gayagenda.com/no-more-bullies-wear-share-and-go-purple-on-spiritday-october-17/
