Dear Ones,

If you see me out and about today (Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022) I will be wearing purple.

Now, you might wonder, “Why is she telling us this? She wears purple sometimes and it’s not a big deal.”

I’m wearing purple on 10/20/22 to show my support for LGBTQ+ youth, as part of GLAAD’s Spirit Day. GLAAD was formed in 1985 as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the name was changed to simply GLAAD in 2013 as the organization has expanded over the years to support the whole spectrum of LGBTQ+ people.

GLAAD promotes Spirit Day as a day to be visibly supportive of LGBTQ youth because:

• 52% of LGBTQ+ youth in middle or high school report being bullied either in person or electronically in the past year (2021 survey by The Trevor Project);
• Over 80% of youth said that celebrities who are LGBTQ positively impact how the youth feel about being LGBTQ; and
• Since the start of 2022, lawmakers have proposed 325 anti-LGBTQ bills, 130 of which target the rights of transgender people, especially trans youth.

You can learn more here: https://www.glaad.org/spiritday#participate

It’s one more little thing that we can do as members of a Welcoming Congregation, to show support for our LGBTQ+ friends, family, members, and neighbors. I hope you’ll join me in going purple for Spirit Day!

I’m so glad to be here, with you.

Blessings,
Rev. Lori