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# Reflecting on Spirit Day 2020
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/reflecting-on-spirit-day-2020/
- Published: 2020-10-17T07:31:52.000Z
- Updated: 2020-10-17T07:32:02.000Z
- Description: Thursday 15 October saw thousands of social media users and numerous famous figures promote and demonstrate their support for Spirit Day 2020.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: Mental Health, News, Pride, Queer Corner, Anti Bullying, Glaad, Kamala Harris, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ rights

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/spirit-day-1.jpg)

**Thursday 15 October** saw thousands of social media users and numerous famous figures promote and demonstrate their support for **Spirit Day 2020**; an international LGBTQ+ awareness day with the aim of tackling bullying and harassment. 2020 marks the 10th annual Spirit Day after it was created by Canadian teen **Brittany McMillian** in 2010 as a response to the high number of LGBTQ+ student suicides that year, including the death of **Tyler Clementi** whose suicide made international headlines. The day is promoted by LGBTQ+ organisation **[GLAAD](https://www.glaad.org/spiritday?ref=scenemag.co.uk)** who encourage people and companies to ‘go purple’ to demonstrate their solidarity with young queer people and discourage discrimination.

According to GLAAD, over 70% of LGBTQ+ students have experienced harassment, and over half did not report bullying because they doubted they would receive help, so it encourages as many as possible to take a ‘united stand’ against bullying. Many took to Twitter to express their thoughts on the day, including a handful of celebrities and public figures.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/kamala-harris-1.jpg)

Democrat vice president candidate **[Kamala Harris](https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1316824670147096576?ref=scenemag.co.uk)** wrote words of support for LGBTQ+ youth, tweeting: *“know that you deserve to be accepted and loved just as you are”.*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/wilson-cruz-1.jpg)

Openly gay *Star Trek* actor **[Wilson Cruz](https://twitter.com/wcruz73/status/1316738084050960385?ref=scenemag.co.uk)** wished his followers a happy Spirit Day and wrote: *“We LOVE you. We SEE you and you’re PERFECT, just as you were made.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/hillary_clinton-1.jpg)

**[Hilary Clinton](https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/1316797075129012225?ref=scenemag.co.uk)** tweeted that she ‘stands with’ the LGBTQ+ community on Spirit Day but also all year round.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/reba-1.jpg)

American singer and actor **[Reba McEntire](https://twitter.com/reba/status/1316727124162752514?ref=scenemag.co.uk)** encouraged her followers to ‘go purple’ with her to discourage bullying and promote LGBTQ+ acceptance.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/celion-dion-1.jpg)

**[Celine Dion](https://twitter.com/celinedion/status/1316767170978873346?ref=scenemag.co.uk)**, the best-selling Canadian recording artist in history, posted a photo of herself and her children and wrote: *“I encourage all of you to join us and take a stand against anti-LGBTQ+ bullying.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/clea-duvall-1.jpg)

Queer actor **[Clea DuVall](https://twitter.com/cleaduvall/status/1316830242346987521?ref=scenemag.co.uk)**, known for her roles in *The Faculty* and *Girl, Interrupted*, wrote: *“To LGBTQ+ youth, I know how lonely and scary each day can be, but know this: You are not alone. We see you and we stand with you.”*