Thaindian News

October 20, 2010 (Pen Men at Work): ‘Wear purple’ is the theme for dressing up on October 20th, the day that will be commemorated as the ‘Spirit Day’ organized in honor of all those young gay people who had been forced to take their own lives on account of social ostracism and disdain.

The idea was launched tentatively just a couple of weeks back by a Canadian teenager named Brittany McMillan who wanted to spread awareness about the hateful comments and taunts that the LGBT teenagers have to suffer.

McMillan went public on Facebook and urged all to support the cause. She said that there were gay persons who had to face discrimination in schools, colleges and even within the confines of their own homes. She asked for support against such prejudices.

She also has a reason for choosing the color purple. The LGBTQ flag has purple in it which represents the spirit. She also said that the LGBT should get out of their feeling of homophobia. She is confident that all the gays and the lesbians would be accepted with time and hopes that they will learn to be patient and wait for the right time.

In the meantime, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) page on Facebook shows 1,300,000 members who have committed to wear purple as a symbol of solidarity on 20th of October.

Laura McGinnis who is a spokesperson for the Trevor Project, an organization that remains focused on suicide prevention for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth says that the youth who were LGBTs often had to face tremendous pressure and were therefore more likely to commit suicide. The suicide rate for the LGBT teens were almost four times that of the heterosexuals, she added.