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EXCLUSIVE: Laverne Cox Wants You to Go Purple for #SpiritDay
EXCLUSIVE: Laverne Cox Wants You to Go Purple for #SpiritDay
The Orange Is the New Black star has released a video about bullying and LGBT youth.
Laverne Cox is taking a stand against bullying.
The Orange Is the New Black star is shining a spotlight on the mistreatment of LGBT youth in a YouTube video released Wednesday by GLAAD.
The transgender public figure has partnered with the media advocacy organization to promote Spirit Day on Thursday, when individuals, companies, websites, and even national monuments will wear or broadcast the color purple to draw attention to this cause.
"Did you know that more than half of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth say they feel unsafe at school?" Cox says in the video. "Seventy-eight percent of transgender youth report experiencing harassment or bullying at school. That's why we're wearing purple for Spirit Day, October 16, in a united stand against bullying and to support our LGBT youth."
"Join us in going purple with #SpiritDay on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. For more information, go to GLAAD.org/SpiritDay," she concludes.
The Emmy-nominated actress will light the Empire State Building in purple Thursday, which will mark the first time the storied New York building has participated in Spirit Day.
Fellow OITNB castmates Selenis Leyva and Yael Stone also recently released a video in support of Spirit Day. The Netflix show won a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series earlier this year.
Other past purple participants include Oprah Winfrey, Cher, the White House, the NBA, and Twitter. The day coincides with GLSEN's Ally Week and the National Bullying Prevention Month.
On Friday Cox will appear in Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word, an MTV and Logo TV documentary that will tell the stories of seven transgender youth.
Watch the full message from Laverne Cox below.
