America's Sports Teams 'Go Purple' To Fight Homophobic Bullying

Tomorrow's Spirit Day is going to be huge this year. GLAAD announced this afternoon that all six major American sports leagues — the NBA, the NFL, the NHL, Major League Baseball teams, Major League Soccer and Nascar's diversity program — are all participating in the annual event to help combat bullying.

In addition to "going purple" by adopting the day's official color, the various teams and organizations will be using their social media outlets to send pro-inclusion tweets, updates and other messages of support.

"From sports leagues to faith institutions to national monuments, schools and celebrities, millions of Americans will unite this week in an unprecedented show of support for LGBT youth and in a stand against bullying," said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick in a press release. "At a time when 8 out of 10 LGBT youth report being harassed at school, it’s now more important than ever that we let every young person know that it’s okay to be who you are."

But it's not just sports teams who are spreading the Spirit Day love. All of Viacom's brands and channels, including MTV, VH1 and BET, are participating, as are NBC Universal's holdings and television hosts on Access Hollywood, E! News and Chelsea Handler will wear purple on Chelsea Lately. And that's really just the tip of the iceberg: the entire list is basically a solar system of celebrities, something that would have been unheard of in the not-so-distant past.

Still no word on whether President Obama and Mitt Romney will heed Katy Butler's call and "go purple" as well, but you sure should. And supporters are also being encouraged to donate to GLAAD, the education-focused GLSEN and suicide prevention group The Trevor Project by texting "purple" to 80888.

I've included all the details AFTER THE JUMP.

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