Spirit Day is an annual observance that takes place on the third Thursday in October, specifically on October 16 this year. The day aims to raise awareness about the bullying and harassment faced by the LGBTQ community, particularly focusing on the experiences of LGBTQ youth who often suffer from such discrimination. Participants, including schools, businesses, and celebrities, wear purple to show their support and honor victims of bullying and suicide within the community. The event encourages people to change their social media profile pictures and use hashtags like #SpiritDay and #ChooseKindness to promote kindness and allyship. Spirit Day was inspired by a Canadian teenager's initiative in response to tragic incidents of bullying-related suicides among gay teenagers and is now organized by GLAAD, which provides resources to help allies combat bullying in schools.