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NBA, MLB, MLS and other Sports Teams & Organizations Declare Support for LGBTQ Youth with GLAAD and Athlete Ally on Spirit Day 2018

Oct 18, 2018 | By Athlete Ally

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Originally posted by GLAAD

Spirit Day 2018 is in full swing, and the world has gone purple in support of LGBTQ youth and the world’s largest, most visible anti-bullying campaign.

This year, GLAAD partnered with Athlete Ally, a nonprofit working to educate and activate athletic communities to eliminate homophobia and transphobia in sports and to exercise their leadership to champion LGBTQ equality, to engage with sports leagues and athletes.

Sports leagues including Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the NBA and WNBA are sharing #SpiritDay messages on social media. Out Nascar driver Stephen Rhodes and NBA player Reggie Bullock (Detroit Pistons) have shown their support online in celebration of Spirit Day. Check out some of your favorite athlete’s and team’s tweets below!

 

Trans athlete, Chris Mosier, also tweeted out words of encouragement to LGBTQ youth.

Earlier this morning, Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative tweeted their support with the hashtag #SoccerForAll, and were joined by the New England Revolution team.

Athlete Ally also joined in on the Spirit Day love outpouring on social media.

Newly announced Athlete Ally Ambassador Tadd Fujikawa, the first out gay male pro golfer, shared a photo of himself wearing purple and urging others to do the same. Team USA Olympic wrestler Jenna Burkert and Major League Quidditch player Kedzie Teller, both Athlete Ally Ambassadors, also participated.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

LGBTQ youth deserve to be safe and supported in hallways, locker rooms, sports fields, and all spaces. I’m joining @GLAAD and @AthleteAlly this #SpiritDay to stand against bullying. Go purple now: http://glaad.org/spiritday #gay #LGBTQ #glaad #athleteally #purpose #love #humanity #equality #athlete #empowerment #selfie #home #hawaii #golfer #professional

A post shared by Tadd Fujikawa (@taddy808) on

Other Athlete Ally Professional and Olympic Ambassadors including Martina Navratilova, Minnesota Vikings player Johnny Stanton, MLS player Sacha Kljestan, former NWSL player Lori Lindsey, LPGA golfer Melissa Reid, and Olympians Esther Lofgren and Khatuna Loring are also participating in Spirit Day 2018.

GLAAD has also received Spirit Day participation from the WWE and its superstar roster.

 

About Spirit Day

Each year, millions go purple for GLAAD’s Spirit Day to support LGBTQ youth in a united stand against bullying. Started in 2010 by high school student Brittany McMillan in response to numerous young LGBTQ lives lost to suicide, Spirit Day now draws the participation of celebrities, schools, faith institutions, national landmarks, corporations, media outlets, sports leagues, and advocates around the world, all joining together to stand against bullying and support LGBTQ youth.

Presenting partners include Hilton, Target, and Wells Fargo; official partners are Johnson & Johnson, the NBA and WNBA; and supporting partners include Kellogg’s, Barilla, and Kirkland & Ellis — all will participate in the anti-bullying campaign.

This year, Spirit Day is October 18, 2018. Take the Spirit Day pledge to show LGBTQ youth you’ve got their backs at glaad.org/spiritday. Follow @GLAAD on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up to date with #SpiritDay news.

 

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