NSCC to participate in ‘Spirit Day’ today

LYNN – The public is invited to wear anything purple today for “Spirit Day,” in honor of the six gay people who committed suicide in recent months due to harassment about their sexual orientation.The color purple symbolizes “spirit” on the rainbow flag, a symbol for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Pride that was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978.According to Facebook, more than one million people are participating in Spirit Day.Among those individuals will be some of the students and faculty at North Shore Community College (NSCC).Nancy Barker, the Marketing and Public Relations staff assistant at NSCC, sent an electronic bulletin to faculty members, which reminded them about the occasion and invited them to participate.Barker says that although the bulletin was sent directly to faculty, chatter amongst NSCC students suggests that many of them will be clad in purple as well.Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation in Massachusetts, will also be wearing the symbolic color.”The tragic suicides of our youth have started an important dialogue among Americans about the dangers of bullying,” said Barrios. “Now is the time to show our children that millions of Americans accept and value them regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”Another way to show support is by visiting www.glaad.com/org/spiritday to turn your Twitter profile or Facebook profile picture purple.