This article focuses on the importance of Spirit Day. This article is based on the Dutch article I about “Paarse Vrijdag” (“Purple Friday”), the Dutch equivalent of Spirit Day, as it is known in the Netherlands.
Every year it is the same story in the Netherlands. Every time, the same arguments are used as to why a day known in the Netherlands as Purple Friday should not be there. It would be an “obligation” or it would be too “intimidating” or “indoctrinating”. Utter nonsense!
History
Purple Friday is the Dutch derivative of Spirit Day. There is a difference in which these days take place. However, the content is the same. So the day is also based on was Brittany McMillan came up with in 2010. She wanted to draw attention, in a positive sense, to LGBTQIA+ young people and their position in society. There were several examples of how not to do it showing that the position of these young people was under pressure due to discrimination and bullying. With devastating consequences.
The reasons for creating a special day, Spirit Day, had everything to do with a rise in the number of suicides in the country where McMillan lives (Canada). This immediately dispelled a myth: the day is a Canadian initiative.
The increase in suicides in Canada and the neighbouring US was a reason for McMillan to think about a day to draw attention to the mental health of LGBTQIA+ youth. In particular, Tyler Clementi’s suicide on 22 September 2010 played a big part in this. Clementi was secretly filmed by his roommate Dharun Ravi kissing someone. Ravi posted the footage showing Clementi kissing another boy on Twitter. Ravi worked together with Molly Wei. The two eventually had to answer to a court for their actions. It did not go much further than a violation of privacy. The first edition organised by McMillan took place on Wednesday 20 October 2010. Later, it became Thursday 20 October 2011. Then it became Friday 19 October 2012. In 2013, it was decided to make the day take place on the third Thursday of October. In this, McMillan received support from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
