'Purple October': 'The View' Ladies Show Support For Gay Teens On 'Spirit Day' (VIDEO)

The ladies of "The View" each wore an item of purple clothing today to denounce the recent rash of anti-gay bullying incidents that resulted in the suicides of at least five teenage boys since July.

Co-host Whoopi Goldberg, sporting purple shoes, called Oct. 20 "Spirit Day" and explained that it was intended "to honor young people who have been victims of anti-gay bullying." Co-hosts Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd wore purple blouses; Elisabeth Hasselbeck donned a purple scarf.

Spirit Day was created earlier this month by teenager Brittany McMillan, in an effort to encourage fellow LGBT allies to "rally together" against anti-gay bullying in schools. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) took up the Spirit Day initiative, urging everyone to wear purple on Oct. 20 to show support for LGBT teens who struggle for acceptance. The color purple symbolizes "spirit" on the LGBT rainbow flag.

According to the GLAAD website, "Spirit Day honors the teenagers who had taken their own lives in recent weeks. But just as importantly, it's also a way to show the hundreds of thousands of LGBT youth who face the same pressures and bullying, that there is a vast community of people who support them."

"View" co-host Hasselbeck called it "an incredible cause."

WATCH:

Comments

[jasmar]

02:29 PM on 10/25/2010

What color will they wear for the skinny kids who get bullied? What color for the fat kids? The "nerds"? How about some equality here?

[wasim ali]

06:10 AM on 10/25/2010

Love all these women - strong, sassy, funny. Thank you all.

[Lordpappanqui]

12:04 AM on 10/25/2010

Wait... Hasselbeck actually participated with wearing a purple article of clothing??!! ..... Words actually escape me....

[jerryatthebeach]

07:14 PM on 10/24/2010

I'm sure Barbara and Whoopi have both had bi-sexual encounters...

[bbbbmer]

07:58 PM on 10/24/2010

Babs and Cheryl Mossbacher.... CM has spoken about it publicly in the VV (village voice -- such appropriate initials, btw)... and in InTouch, both mags in which she advertises... Quite an open secret for years...

[flashnomad]

02:46 PM on 10/24/2010

What's the difference between a culture that stones a woman to death for loving who she wants and a culture that bullies a teen to death for loving who he/she wants? It's time for Americans to Equal Rights and Respect for LGBT as for any other American.

[Pema]

11:00 AM on 10/24/2010

purple ribbons are for animals in shelters. they are no animal left behind mottos. no one cared about these kids but it seems to be fashion now. even michelle obama sent out an email saying it would get better, tho her husband will not reconginze same sex marriage or allow gays to openly serve in the military. i found it extremly hypocritcal. it will get better but we will do nothing to reconginze you except to shame you.
it just burns my britches when i see this going on. maybe if the president would spine up and do the right thing. he wouldnt even be here if it wasnt for a civil rights fight and now he denies this to others.

[judow]

09:36 AM on 10/22/2010

How about we teach our children that they shouldn't be defined by their sexuality? There is so much more to life and this is but one facet

[MarkBoston]

02:45 PM on 10/22/2010

what an odd comment .....

[Andrew FingerlickingGree]

11:06 PM on 10/22/2010

I totally agree with you..... people, on both sides are killing me with this. Being gay doesn't define who I am... tolerance, respect and equality YES! but I feel like there's this campaign going on where I am being defined by my sexuality.
I really don't see the big deal, you're gay... okay, whatever.... why is it such a big deal. But I guess its more than just a gay issue, its a part of the ultimate fight between progressive values and conservative values.

[kforce]

12:59 PM on 10/23/2010

Well, it's an awfully big deal to kids who are just learning about themselves and whose lives are being made miserable by bullies and a generally intolerant, insensitive atmosphere in their schools and communities. It's great that you are so secure, but many kids, and that's who this campaign was all about, are not so fortunate.

[Pema]

11:01 AM on 10/24/2010

andrew...you hit the nail on the head excellent post.

[talkingheads]

12:50 AM on 10/22/2010

Being straight does not give license to sleep with every other straight person. I am a straight woman and hell i do not fantasize every other man I meet. We meet so many people in our lives we are not always sexually tuned in. Why do some people refuse to apply this logic when it comes to gay people? They are like one of us. Stop persecuting them,,, you either develop tolerance or just do not bother! They are just fine as they are, they do not need unsolicited advices as how one should lead life!

[Heather Sheridan]

06:28 PM on 10/23/2010

fanned and faved for putting so eloquently what so many people seem to miss. This is one of my major talking points when debating with someone on LGBT issues.

[kenhamlett]

10:46 PM on 10/21/2010

There have been many encouraging acts in response to the recent spate of bullying suicides and hate crimes against gays in this country, and, as a gay man, I am grateful for them all. I continue to be sad, however, that (except for Secretary of State Clinton) our national leaders have been silent on this topic. This is certainly a "teaching moment." It would be nice if our leaders showed enough courage to leave the teacher's lounge and do some good!

[itolduso]

12:39 PM on 10/21/2010

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.....purple ribbons, purple lights, & purple clothing have been used and worn for years to symbolize this and to raise awareness. Violence, belittlement, and abuse against ANYONE must never be tolerated.

[shirleyfeeney]

12:29 PM on 10/21/2010

I wore my purple to support ALL who are bullied, not simply gay youth. Bullying does not affect just gay teens. Bullies will go to the weakest link in a chain, and that link doesn't have to be gay.

My oldest daughter was very much her own girl as a child. Didn't conform to clothing fads or whatever. She's very artistic and as a result dressed much differently than most of her peers. That led to taunts from other students. She's 21 now, but the end of her elementary/high school years couldn't come soon enough for me or her. And now my two youngest, a boy and girl, both in elementary school, are facing the same thing. I'm not going to tell my kids that they can't express themselves because I want them to be who they are, but I do hope and pray that when they're in middle school and high school they don't face harassment from other students.

And that's why I wore my purple yesterday...as a mom.

[PrecooledToast]

07:16 PM on 10/21/2010

it's interesting how school age children all feel the need to fit in, but as we get older we want to set ourselves apart. sounds like your girl was a step ahead of everyone. you should be proud of her.

[talkingheads]

12:54 AM on 10/22/2010

It is time for them to take up some martial arts class!!!

[ejay11]

10:59 AM on 10/21/2010

Bullying is not confined to a specific group. Bullies will find anything that is different and attack. One year ago my cousin"s daughter hung herself because of bullies that ridiculed her incessantly. Due to a childhood illness she had lost her hair. A supportive, loving family and many friends were unable to reach her. The problem being the kids who bullied her were the "popular crowd" which equates to powerful in the school. She was a bright and beautiful girl that finally succumbed to their cruelty. I hear many parents denounce bullies ,yet when their children say mean things about their classmates they laugh and explain how their child has an "attitude" or "she lets you know what she is thinking" some even agree and encourage their children . If you ask any of them they will deny their kids are bullies. Until parents and schools crack down and enforce serious consequences on cruelty and children are raised with the values of kindness and courtesy, young people are at risk no matter what their difference is.

[Peaceride]

09:53 AM on 10/21/2010

I'm so glad to see the "ladies" of The View made an attempt for Spirit Day, and rather than dressing entirely in purple, they wore one small item that had the color purple on it. I get it, it's the effort that counts, but maybe I'm just simply sick and tired of the majority of the people on this show?! If you want a truly refreshing and enjoyable daytime talk show, tune in to the new show 'The Talk' on CBS ... these women are much more classy, eloquent yet spunky, and the most surprising thing of all?! THEY DON'T TALK OVER EACH OTHER!!

[Kathryn Maver]

10:31 AM on 10/21/2010

And "The Talk" is all fluffy and sweet, too!

[PresidentRobertBooth]

05:51 AM on 10/21/2010

Gays be assured.

Robert Lee Booth, your president, America's president, loves you all.

[Tails]

11:30 AM on 10/21/2010

I am comforted by your strong jaw line.

[Shelby596]

11:42 PM on 10/20/2010

It always gets me, the hypocrisy of the right... I'm talking to YOU, Elizabeth, who act as if they are all enlightened and they support gay rights, but then turn around and support a platform of hate speech and anti-gay rhetoric and a party that will do anything to deny us our rights. How are we supposed to stop bullying when one of only two parties regularly talk about how gays are abnormal? Can't stand her.

[MarkBoston]

02:49 PM on 10/22/2010

least we forget the self loathing gay republicans ....