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do you have a purple scarf?

Thursday, October 20, 2011 is Spirit Day! Millions of Americans wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and to speak out against bullying. Spirit Day was started in 2010 by teenager Brittany McMillan as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. Observed annually on October 20, individuals, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals and celebrities wear purple, which symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag. Getting involved is easy -- participants are asked to simply "go purple" on October 20 as we work to create a world in which LGBT teens are celebrated and accepted for who they are.

Thursday, October 20, 2011 is Spirit Day! Please wear just a touch of purple to support young people dealing with bullying tomorrow. Sure, it is a bit weird to randomly wear purple as an adult... but, as Dr. Seuss famously said, “life’s a little weird…”. Please go with it by finding an old purple scarf or hat and put it on… By wearing purple tomorrow you are telling young people in our communities that you are a safe person to speak with about their experiences with bullying…

Religious Voices Supporting Spirit Day (GLAAD.org)
Facebook’s Going a Little Gay for Spirit Day (mashable.com)
Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund of San Francisco, urging people to go purple (JewishFed.org)
We’re Going Purple on October 20: You Should Too (bilerico.com)
Put on Some Purple For Spirit Day (bellasugar.com)
‘Jersey Shore’ Star Vinny Teams Up With GLAAD (mtv.com)
Why Facebook, Yahoo & others are celebrating LGBT Spirit Day (venturebeat.com)
Celebrate Spirit Day on October 20th by wearing purple (queerlandia.com)
Celebs And Corporations Are Waving Their Spirit Fingers For #SpiritDay! (perezhilton.com)
Why Did GLAAD Pick Purple As The Color To Wear For Spirit Day? (queerty.com)
Wear Purple to Support LGBT & Bullying on Spirit Day (997now.radio.com)
Will you join me and pledge to go purple in support of LGBT youth? (qjew.wordpress.com)

Will you join me and pledge to go purple in support of LGBT youth?

10 Oct

Last fall, a young person named Brittany McMillan wanted to do something about the LGBT teens who died by suicide. So she put a call out via a social network for people to wear purple on October 20th in support of LGBT teens and called it spirit day. She thought that only a few hundred at most would wear purple. She never imagined that thousands would respond by wearing purple. But her idea went viral quickly. The cast of Glee dressed up in purple as well as a few of the hosts on The View. Even Anderson Cooper and Dr. Phil got in the purple spirit of spirit day. It was inspiring to see a young person have so much impact.

This year, Brittany is asking the world again to dress in purple. She hopes that the LGBT teens who walk into their classrooms on October 20 to see their teachers and classmates wearing purple will give them a feeling of hope. Again, this year I’m joining Brittany on spirit day by wearing purple. It is such an easy way to help bring hope to young people in our San Francisco Bay Area community. I hope that you also choose to pledge to go purple on October 20 too. Then I hope you will put a call out to your synagogue, school, organization or company to observe Spirit Day as well. Do me a favor, email me at work {lisaf @sfjcf.org} or tag me on facebook with pictures of you dressed in purple so I can continue to create a poster of how our Jewish community dresses up to support LGBT causes.

Together, we can show LGBT teens that they are supported. By pledging to wear purple on October 20, LGBT teens can find you, remember who you are and if they ever need someone to trust in coming out they know you can be a safe advocate and friend to connect with.

What is Spirit Day? How can you celebrate LGBT Teens in your Jewish community? Learn more.

LGBT Teen Suicide (somegirlslikegirls.wordpress.com)
Cyndi Lauper Opens Homeless Shelter for LGBT Youth (inquisitr.com)
Mayor Declares Stand Up Against Bullying Week! (queerdallas.com)
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Teens and Stress (teens.webmd.com)
Top 10 LGBT Websites and Blogs (qjew.wordpress.com)
MTV Special for gay youth! (queerlandia.com)

During a gathering at the San Francisco Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) LGBT Advocate, Jessica Trubowitch, with Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) speaks with another proud LGBT San Francisco Jewish leader, Rebecca Prozan!