Spirit Day is an awareness day first observed in Canada in October 2010 to support LGBTQ youth in a united stand against bullying. That year, a Canadian teenager named Brittany McMillan started a campaign on Tumblr to celebrate the first Spirit Day.
Purple is the color that represents spirit on the Pride Flag and the Spirit Day awareness campaign has grown worldwide.
Statistics on the LGBTQIA2S + Community:
More than half of the transgender and non-binary youth have seriously considered suicide. (National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2020)
70.1% of LGBTQ+ students have been verbally harassed (GLSEN National School Climate Survey)
1 in 3 LGBTQ youth reported that they had been physically threatened or harmed in their lifetime due to their LGBTQ identity. (National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2020)
53.3% of LGBTQ students did not report bullying experiences because they doubted an intervention. (GLSEN National School Climate Survey)
How to Observe Spirit Day in the Workplace
Education: Attend workshops, courses, and retreats centered around the LGBTQ+ community to learn about the rich history of queer folks, how to create an inclusive and supportive workplace, strategies for adequately addressing discrimination and alienation, and so much more.
Inclusive Policy: Create, strengthen and enforce policies that support your LGBTQIA+ staff. Allow medical leave for those transitioning, provide health insurance for those who require hormone therapy and gender-confirmation surgeries and change gendered restrooms to gender-neutral restrooms.
Communications Template for Spirit Day
[Subject: Celebrating Spirit Day]
Hi all,
Today October 19th, is recognized as Spirit Day. A little bit of history for you: In October 2010, a Canadian teenager named Brittany McMillan started an online campaign to celebrate the first Spirit Day.
Statistics regarding LGBTQIA2S + community and bullying:
More than half of the transgender and non-binary youth have seriously considered suicide.
1 in 3 LGBTQ youth reported that they had been physically threatened or harmed in their lifetime due to their LGBTQ identity. (National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2020)
70.1% of LGBTQ+ students have been verbally harassed.
53.3% of LGBTQ students did not report bullying experiences because they doubted an intervention. (GLSEN National School Climate Survey)
We encourage you all to wear purple today to show your spirit in support of anti-bullying in the LGBTQIA2S+ community!
“All people should be treated equally regardless of who they are or who they love.” - Barack Obama
Thank you,
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