NEW YORK, NY — Emmy nominated actress and prominent equal rights advocate Laverne Cox lit up the Empire State Building in purple for Spirit Day on October 19th, to support LGBTQ youth and take the pledge against bullying.
Cox is the first openly transgender person to appear on the covers of TIME Magazine, British Vogue, Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Essence Magazine, among others. Laverne also proudly holds two SAG Awards, winning them with her Orange Is the New Black castmates for ‘Outstanding Performance by Ensembles in a Comedy Series.’ Other accolades include a Critic’s Choice nomination for “Best Supporting Actress,” consecutive NAACP Image Award nominations for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy-Series,” and was honored with GLAAD’s Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 25th GLAAD Media Awards.
GLAAD Board Member, Frankie Grande, hosts the fifth annual Spirit Day Concert, that took place on Wednesday, October 18, spotlighted some of the music industry’s top performers and emerging queer intersectional artists who are revolutionizing the industry. Powered by Live Nation and The Recording Academy, the annual GLAAD tradition opens to the public for the first time and features performances from Lauren Jauregui, VINCINT, The Scarlet Opera, Wayne Brady and more. Hyundai is a Major sponsor of the concert, and M&M’s returns as an Official sponsor. Proceeds from this historic live music event will amplify GLAAD’s mission to accelerate acceptance and give LGBTQ youth, their parents, educators, allies and more an opportunity to see what’s possible when we lead with acceptance.
Celebrities and influential voices, Amy Schneider, Aria Brooks, Blue Hamilton, Brandon Thompson, Brandy Clark, Brooke Eden, Brooklynne Webb, Calum Scott, Christopher Gorham, EMELINE, Erin Andrews, Heidi Klum, Ian Paget, Idina Menzel, Isaac Dubar, Jaymes Vaughan, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Jessica Carter Altman, JoJo Siwa, Jonathan Bennett, Kaila Novak, Karamo, Kristin Cavallari, Lisa Edelstein, Mädchen Amick, Marcia Gay Harden, Mark Kanemura, Maren Morris, Matt Dallas, Matt Iseman, Matty Maggiacomo, Mayim Bialik, Meredith Marks, Michael D. Cohen, Nick Carter, Paul Feig, Rachel Bloom, Rebecca Zamolo, Reagan To, Ryan Michelle Bathé, Sasha Colby, Scott Turner Schofield, Shinjiro Atae, Sofia Vergara, Sterling K. Brown, The Scarlet Opera, Travis Shumake, Ty Herndon, UMI, Wayne Brady, among others that participated in Spirit Day 2023.
Faith leaders Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, Brandan Robertson, Father James Martin, and Bishops Megan Rohrer, Brenda Bos, among others, will also participate in the world’s largest and most visible LGBTQ anti-bullying campaign.
Several studios, networks, shows, streaming services, landmarks, sports leagues, and organizations are confirmed to take part in the world’s largest and most visible LGBTQ anti-bullying campaign: the United Nations, The Academy of Country Music, American Library Association, American Federation of Teachers, United Against Book Bans, Little Bee Books, Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC, The Choose Kindness Project and more will go purple in support of LGBTQ youth for Spirit Day.
Several sports leagues that include, the NFL, NBA and WNBA, are community sponsors of Spirit Day this year and will take part in the anti-bullying campaign alongside other major sports leagues and professional sports teams across the country.
Many notable television and entertainment companies also participated this year such as, NBC Universal, CNBC’s logo will also go purple on-air and online in support of LGBTQ youth. In addition, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, and NBC News NOW, Peacock, NBCU Entertainment – including NBC, Bravo, E!, Syfy, Oxygen True Crime and USA – and Universal Studio Group – Universal Television, UCP, Universal Television Alternative Studio and Universal International Studios – will participate in taking a stand against bullying on Spirit Day and Beyond. For the seventh year, iHeartMedia will participate in #SpiritDay by airing PSA spots in support of LGBTQ youth across its radio stations nationwide.
Other networks such as Paramount including Paramount + and its affliate networks also participated in highlighting awareness for Spirit Day 2023.
Since the inaugural #SpiritDay in 2010, GLAAD organizes hundreds of celebrities, media outlets, brands, landmarks, sports leagues, faith groups, school districts, organizations, colleges and universities in what has become the most visible anti-LGBTQ bullying campaign and united show of support for LGBTQ youth. Purple symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag.
Previous #SpiritDay participants include the Obama White House, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Empire State Building, Oprah Winfrey, Sec. Hillary Clinton, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Kerry Washington, Halle Berry, Celine Dion, Shaquille O’Neal, Sam Smith, Jimmy Kimmel, Troye Sivan, Good Morning America, The TODAY Show, The View, The Talk, The Tonight Show, the MLB, NASCAR, WWE, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, the Las Vegas Strip, and many more.
