Are you wearing purple today?
Today is #SpiritDay - a day that supports LGBTQ youth against bullying.
Why purple you may ask? Well, according to GLAAD's website, people wear purple because purple on the pride flag represents the "spirit" of the community.
We always share tips and advice, but I thought it would be great to share my own experience on how bullying effected me as a teen.
Being a tween and teen is not easy. I still remember feeling different and holding that secret of wanting to come out for years. Remember, it was a different time. Marriage was not an option for my future, there were only a handful of LGBT characters on TV and every book I opened I could not find someone like me. I was more scared than ever after turning on the TV and learning Matthew Shepard was killed for being gay.
Luckily, I had a great support system of friends, teachers and family that prevented bullying from consuming me. Sadly, many LGBTQ children don't have this support system.
So what can you do?
Kristen actually shared a great wealth of resources earlier this month for parents and teachers to combat bullying. Check out a few resources below:
- Scholastic Parents has the ultimate Parent Guide to Bullying, a collection of articles that deal with identifying bullying issues and building confidence.
- Here are our top picks for books on bullying, for every age!
- Choices, Scholastic's classroom magazine for teens, created a fantastic "Take a Compliment" flyer that kids can post in school to promote positivity!
- Scholastic Parent & Child magazine interviewed a "bully coach" about the best ways that parents can deal with bullying.
Remember, lead by example! Go purple today!
Scholastic
