Going purple has a special meaning today.

Spirit Day was inaugurated back in 2010 and since then, GLAAD has been able to grow thanks to the immense support of various sponsors such as Amazon, Wells Fargo, Porsche and NFL to name a few. The purple color symbolizes "spirit" on the pride flag and GLAAD has wasted no time in encouraging people through social media to show support for the LGBTQ+ community.

But what does exactly Spirit Day stand for? Well... It's a statement of support for LGBTQ+ youth, which experiences bullying and harassment on a daily basis.

Although things are definitely getting better compared to past times, when the LGBTQ+ community had to hide their identities in order to survive hostile environments, further changes are essential.

A 2021 National Survey by the Trevor Project shows that the majority of LGBTQ+ community who were enrolled in middle or high school have report being bullied either in person or electronically in the past year.

And even if this is the official date, Spirit Day 2021 kicked off last night in Atlanta during an event featuring Lil Nas X and local HIV and LGBTQ+ leaders.

The event was hosted by legendary record producer Dallas Austin and the Gilead COMPASS Initiative, featuring a choir of members of the LGBTQ+ community dressed in purple performing songs from MONTERO -- Lil Nas X's debut album.

The more celebrities and people in positions of power show their true colors, the more younger generations will feel more included and prouder of who they really are. Over 80% of youth said that celebrities who are LGBTQ+ positively impact how they feel about being LGBTQ+

Moreover, the United Nations stated that education should also be able to be pursued without facing bullying and discrimination. In order to have a more inclusive education, the UN encouraged to participate in Free Equal, to spread awareness on these issues.

Famous radio host Elvis Duran also showed his support for the LGBTQ+ community through an effective medium: his own voice.

In his show, Duran took a pledge to stand against bullying and invited others to do the same. Furthermore, GLAAD shared a new short film which portrays a trans young person's experience of coming back to school as their authentic self.

"And now, everyone can see the real me, finally."

You can watch the short film down below and if you want to show your support for the LGBTQ+ community, turn your social media purple and visit GLAAD's website to know what you can do to prevent discrimination and bullying.

GLAAD Short Film