Supporting Our Youth: Spirit Day Takes a Stand Against Bullying

Did you know that students who experience bullying have a high incidence of substance abuse, depression, and even suicide? Karen Barr, Moderator of the GLAD Alliance Council, encourages your participation in Spirit Day 2014 and explains why LGBT youth need the open affirmation of our Open & Affirming message more than ever.

Since 2010 the third Thursday in October has been Spirit Day, a day to show support of LGBT youth and take a stand against bullying. Spirit Day was first started by a high school student who wanted to remember LGBT youth who had lost their lives to suicide and take a stand against bullying. On that day supporters wear purple to show their support. This year it is October 16.

Suicide.

From the very beginning the link between bullying and suicide was clear. But while that is the most tragic result of bullying it is not the only one. LGBT youth that have experienced bullying report higher rates of depression, heavy drinking and substance abuse issues, and higher risk for HIV.* The Family Acceptance Project has done some excellent research on the long-term effects of bullying that LGBT youth far too often still experience. They have found that LGBT young adults who report having experienced high levels of school victimization (the term they find more accurate than bullying) are 5.6 times more likely to report having made suicide attempts that required medical care, 2.6 times more likely to report depressions and 2 times more likely to have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease than those who reported having experienced low levels of school victimization. Those young adults who reported experiencing lower levels of school victimization report higher life satisfaction and higher levels of self-esteem. Bullying can hurt. A lot. For a long time.

Bullying, who could possibly not want to stand against it?

As the headline in Huffington Post said, “Christian Groups Take Issue With Anti Bullying Laws.” When there is any opposition to anti-LGBT bullying it comes from religious groups, usually on the grounds of religious freedom. I do not doubt that hearing Christian groups complain that measures to stop bullying are an infringement of their rights is yet another source of pain for those who are or have been bullied.

I plan to wear purple on October 16 and I hope you will as well. The kids need to see us. But we need to do more than that. We need to articulate clearly and repeatedly that inclusion is how we live out the Gospel. That it is not just the right thing to do, but the Christian response and that we don’t do it in spite of the Bible but rather because of it. We need to be as clear about this as we are about our welcome. It is incumbent on those of us in the inclusive church movement to stand up and be another voice for Christianity. Society needs it. The kids need it.

No one else is going to do it.

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* Russell ST, Ryan C, Toomey RB, Diaz RM, Sanchez, BA. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Adolescent School Victimization: Implications for Young Adult Health and Adjustment. The Journal of School Health. 2011; 81(5): 223-230.