Elvis Duran and the Morning Show Clear Channel Media and Entertainment join millions nationwide in going purple in united stand against bullying
Top-rated radio host encourages listeners across the country and celebrity guests to wear purple in support of LGBT youth, and releases Spirit Day video message
iHeartRadio introduces #SpiritDay Radio featuring Spirit Day participants Ke$ha, Macklemore, Cyndi Lauper, Frank Ocean, Melissa Etheridge and more
NEW YORK, NY, October 14, 2013 - Z100's Elvis Duran and the Morning Show and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, the leading media company in America with a greater reach in the U.S. than any other radio or television outlet, will join millions of people nationwide in 'going purple' for Spirit Day on October 17, 2013 in a united stand against bullying and to show support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth, GLAAD announced today.
Supporters across the country including listeners and celebrities are encouraged to 'go purple' against bullying at .
Duran and co-hosts are encouraging listeners in nearly 40 markets, as well as celebrity guests, to wear purple for Spirit Day on October 17. The Elvis Duran in the Morning Show will also 'go purple' online by turning its official Facebook and Twitter profile photos purple on October 17. Additionally, the ElvisDuran.com store () is featuring a purple 'Spirit Day T-Shirt,' with all proceeds benefitting GLAAD's work to build support for equality. The Elvis Duran and The Morning Show pledge video can be found here.
"All of our show members are united and thrilled to wear purple and support Spirit Day," said Elvis Duran host of the nationally syndicated 'Elvis Duran and The Morning Show.' The dialogue about anti-bullying and acceptance is an important piece of our overall agenda. Thank you, GLAAD, for providing focus on this serious human rights issue."
Clear Channel Media and Entertainment today debuted the 'Spirit Day Radio' station on its iHeartRadio digital music platform (), featuring recording artists that have participated or will participate in Spirit Day to stand up against bullying. Featured artists include Ke$ha, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Demi Lovato, Cher, Cyndi Lauper, Frank Ocean, Adam Lambert, Melissa Etheridge, and more. Additionally, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment will share its support for Spirit Day online through the iHeartRadio Facebook and Twitter channels.
“Clear Channel is committed to addressing important issues and concerns that affect our millions of listeners daily, and we are pleased to help GLAAD support today’s LGBT youth, many of whom live in our local Clear Channel communities,” said Jessica King, Director of Community Engagement for Clear Channel.
GLAAD previously announced that MTV talent including Ke$ha, Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi and Jenni ‘JWOWW’ Farley from ‘Snooki and JWOWW,’ and Nev Schulman and Max Joseph from ‘Catfish: The TV Show’; trans athlete and advocate Kye Allums; openly gay basketball player Jason Collins; 'Orange is the New Black' actress Laverne Cox; the cast of TeenNick's 'Degrassi'; celebrity radio host Elvis Duran; WNBA player Brittney Griner; 12 year-old transgender advocate and star of 'I am Jazz: A family in transition' Jazz; Archie Comics' Kevin Keller; recording artists Macklemore & Ryan Lewis; Extra Host Maria Menounos; country music artist Kacey Musgraves, and Spanish-language talk show host Cristina Saralegui will also 'go purple' for Spirit Day on October 17 as Spirit Day Ambassadors.
Additional celebrity participants include: Kristen Bell, Nate Berkus, Valerie Bertinelli, Dr. Drew, Melissa Etheridge, Jane Leeves, Demi Lovato, Wendie Malick, Betty White, and more. For a complete list of celebrity participants, visit http://glaad.org/spiritday.
Corporations including Atelier lb, American Airlines, American Apparel, American Eagle Outfitters, AT&T, BNB Paribas, Brown-Forman, B|W|R| Public Relations, Caesars, CBS, Chambord, Comcast / NBCUniversal, Cresa, Delta Air Lines, Depository Trust & Clearing Company, Disney, Facebook, Hyatt, Iden Consultoria, Infiniti Graphics, Johnson & Johnson, Kaplan Thaler, Ketel One, Leo Burnett, Los Angeles International Airport, MSLGroup, MTV, Publicis Groupe, Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, PWC, Razorfish, Rock On Rentals, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, SoCal Social Club, Starcom, Stokes Counseling Services, Telemundo, Thomson-Reuters Corporation, Tumblr, Toyota Financial Services, United Airlines, Verzion, Wells Fargo, Westfield Group, ZenithOptimedia, ZipCar will also participate in Spirit Day. Participating companies will distribute information to employees about wearing purple and/or turn their logo purple on October 17.
Faith organizations such as Auburn Seminary, Believe Out Loud, DignityUSA, Equally Blessed, Fortunate Families, the Metropolitan Community Churches, More Light Presbyterians, The Naming Project, New Ways Ministry, Presbyterian Welcome, Reconciling Works: Lutherans for Full Participation, The Religious Institute, Inc., and SOJOURN: Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity are all going purple for Spirit Day, encouraging congregations and members to go purple. Several congregations are planning special commemorations or events for Spirit Day.
Local, national, and international organizations including 17-24-30 No To Hate Crime Campaign; Basic Rights Oregon; The Ben Cohen Stand Up Foundation; Bienestar; Campus Pride; Cape Town Pride; Center for AIDS Prevention Studies | Mpowerment; Centerlink; Circle of Voices; City of Riverside Human Relations Commission; Coalición por los Derechos Humanos; The DC Center for the LGBT Community; Equality Maryland; Equality Ohio; Fair Wisconsin; Family Equality; Forum For Equality; Friendfactor; Gay Men of African Descent; Georgia Equality; Georgia Safe Schools Coalition; GLAD; GLAAD; Global Faith & Justice Project; Groundspark; GLSEN; Halifax Pride; The Handsome Father; The Hetrick-Martin Institute; The Human Rights Campaign; Illumenate Bloomington; The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center; LGBT Center of Central PA; LGBTQ Center of the Finger Lakes; Missouri GSA Network; The Montrose Center; National Women's Coalition Against Violence & Exploitation; Oasis Youth Center; One Iowa; PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center; Palm Beach County Human Rights Council; PFLAG National; Phoenix Pride; Point Foundation; PROMO Missouri; The Q Center; Q Center; QMUNITY Gab Youth/Trans Youth Drop-In; SAGE; Santa Fe Mountain Center (NM Gay Straight Alliance Network); San Jose Pride; Stonewall National Education Project; Straight But Not Narrow; Sunserve; Sylvia Rivera Law Project; Team Todd; Tennessee Equality Project; Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund; The Trevor Project; True Colors Fund; We Are Family will all participate by wearing purple on October 17, turning their social media channels purple, and encouraging members to participate.
For a complete list of celebrity participants, media outlets, TV networks, organizations and corporations visit . Additional participants to be announced.
Millions wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and to speak out against bullying. Spirit Day was started in 2010 as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. With GLAAD’s help, Spirit Day has since garnered widespread support from celebrities, TV news and entertainment programs, corporations, organizations, schools, local communities, and even national landmarks. Spirit Day coincides with GLSEN’s Ally Week, as well as National Bullying Prevention Month.
According to GLSEN's 2011 National School Climate Survey, 63.5% of LGBT students reported feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, 43.9% because of their gender expression. GLSEN also reported that 81.9% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation, and 27.1% because of their gender expression.
Previous Spirit Day participants include The White House, Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, Cher, Shaquille O'Neal, The View, The Talk, The Tonight Show, Extra, the NBA, the NFL, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, the Las Vegas Strip, and more. For more information, visit .
About Elvis Duran and the Morning Show:
Elvis Duran and the Morning Show consistently ranks #1 across multiple demographics and top markets. Broadcasting live daily on New York’s top rated Z100, Elvis Duran is also nationally syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks on over 70 radio stations weekday mornings from 6 -10 a.m. ET including: 105.7 The Groove/WWVA-FM in Atlanta, 96.5 KISS FM/WAKS-FM in Cleveland, Y100/WHYI-FM in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale and Q102/WIOQ-FM in Philadelphia.
About GLAAD:
GLAAD amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, please visit or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.