October 15 Is Spirit Day!

From Harold Moss, Creative Director at FlickerLab, who created the video here.

I was thrilled when GLAAD approached me to make a short animation to get the word out about Spirit Day 2015, the day when millions of people around the world will wear purple to stand up against bullying of LGBT youth. This is an issue that hits very close to home for me.

I had too many of my own experiences with bullying growing up, although they grew more out of the general odd-ballness that creates animators rather than my sexual identity. For a couple of years, I was the kid with a special seat on the bus so I wouldn't get beat up every day.

Bullying creates real despair and desperation. It can take a lot of years to shake it off. And some kids don't make it that far. Layer on top of that someone trying to figure out their sexuality, and the fact that teachers and family might actually be part of the bullying, and it gets pretty grim. That's why standing up to this kind of bullying is so vital for everyone to do, every day.

But it's also incredibly important that the folks who are getting bullied know they're not alone in this. That sense of isolation and helplessness can, I think, be the worst part of it.

That's why Spirit Day is such a big deal, it makes the support visible. Let's all give a big purple shout out to everybody facing this kind of bullying and say, we got your back. We're with you.

I can only hope this short animation we created will get that word out to a few more people, and help Spirit Day make a bit more of a difference.

Now go take the pledge, y'all!

Spirit Day is October 15th - make sure you wear your purple and take the pledge!

To take the pledge, click here.