4 PM – Interviews
5 PM – Student Meet & Greet
6 PM – Rally
8 PM – Post-Rally VIP Event
CHARLESTON – On October 17, 2013, Laverne Cox, a transgender advocate and actress on the hit Netflix series, “Orange is the New Black” will speak at the fourth annual “Spirit Day ” rally and candle light vigil at the College of Charleston Physicians Auditorium. The rally is free and open to the public. Participants are asked to wear purple in a stand against bullying and to show support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth.
Each year since 2010, We Are Family has hosted a “Spirit Day” event to support LGBT youth and to take a stand against bullying. This year, We Are Family has partnered with the College of Charleston Cougar Activities Board, the College of Charleston Office of Institutional Diversity, and the College of Charleston Women’s and Gender Studies program to welcome Laverne Cox, who grew up as a transgender youth in the South.
Cox will be available for interviews from 4-5 pm on October 17. After that, the College of Charleston department of Women’s and Gender Studies will host a student meet and greet from 5-6p. The rally will run form 6-8p and will include a musical performance by Megan Jean and the KFB, as well as speeches by local youths, Devi Raheja and Sera Guerry. There will also be an address by Amy Garbati, Director of Charleston Area Transgender Support and the SC Equality TransAction network.
We Are Family will host a post-rally VIP reception and fundraiser with Laverne Cox from 8-10p at Michael Mitchell gallery in downtown Charleston. A suggested donation of $100 secures a spot at the event. However, space is limited to only 50 people. For more information, contact Melissa Moore at info@waf.org.
Each year, millions of people from all across the globe wear purple on “Spirit Day” in a stand against bullying and to show their support for LGBT youth. Spirit Day draws the participation of celebrities, media outlets, corporations, sports leagues, faith groups, schools, local communities and even national landmarks. For more information about Spirit Day, visit glaad.org/spiritday.
We Are Family hosts a group for LGBT and straight ally youth every Tuesday night from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Meeting House at Circular Congregational Church.
