Today is Ally Week, a week organized to celebrate LGBT allies in schools and to encourage students everywhere be a friend whenever transphobic or homophobic bullying occurs. The week culminates on Friday, October 19 with Spirit Day. MLP will go purple on Friday to speak out against bullying and to show support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth.
Ally Week
Ally Week, organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), is a week for students to identify, support and celebrate Allies against anti-LGBT language, bullying and harassment in America’s schools.
Students will encourage their peers and school staff to sign an Ally Pledge which states:
I believe all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression, deserve to feel safe and supported.
That means I pledge to:
• Not use anti-LGBT language and slurs;
• Intervene, if I safely can, in situations where other students are being harassed;
• Support efforts to end bullying and harassment.
Belong To Youth Services, an organization working to stop bullying in Ireland, released a powerful PSA last year that has garnered over 1 million views on YouTube. The PSA embodies that it means to be an Ally to other LGBT students.
Spirit Day
This week culminates on Spirit Day. Spirit Day is an annual day in October when millions of Americans wear purple to speak out against bullying and to show their support for LGBT youth.
We invite you to wear purple.
This year, the folks at Spirit Day are asking the Presidential Candidates to wear purple on Friday. Ask the Presidential Candidates to join millions by wearing purple on Spirit Day to stand up against bullying and support LGBT youth.
