Spirit Day , a day to stand against bullying and show support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth, is this Thursday, Oct. 17 -- and Marcel Neergaard wants YOU to wear purple to show your support.
Neergaard, who is serving as one of GLAAD's Spirit Day ambassadors, stepped into the national spotlight earlier this year when he succeeded in petitioning a national education group to rescind its award to a legislator who’d sponsored Tennessee’s notorious 'don’t say gay' bill. He has also been extremely open about the anti-gay bullying he was subjected to in the past, even taking to HuffPost Gay Voices to write a blog about his experiences.
In recognition of his efforts, Neergaard was also named "Foot Soldier Of The Week" on the "Melissa Harris-Perry" show.
Additionally, he has been vocal about his belief in the crucial nature of LGBT resources in school, such as Gay Straight Alliances. "When I was bullied in school, it would have been really nice to see that purple shirt and know there were allies," Neergaard told GLAAD in regards to the organization's upcoming Spirit Day.
Watch the video above to hear what Neergaard has to say about Spirit Day, and for more information about the event visit GLAAD's website.