Spirit Day—not dissimilar to the idea of “Spirit Week” held in many high schools—now counts millions of Americans committed on Facebook to wearing the color purple tomorrow. The idea behind Spirit Day, first created by teenager Brittany McMillan earlier this month, is to honor the six gay boys who took their lives as a result of relentless harassment and bullying. But just as importantly, Spirit Day is 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. As one of the event's Facebook pages says: "This event is not a seminar nor is it a rally. There is NO meeting place. All you have to do is wear purple." more ›

LGBT people nationwide have been rocked this week with the tragic news of at least five recent suicides of male students, all committed as a result of being bullied for their actual or perceived sexual orientation in their middle schools, high schools and universities. Here in Chicago, activists are planning a vigil to honor the victims' lives. more ›

Ashley Toney, 16, one of a trio of boys accused of bullying and sexually harassing fellow students on board an Indiana school bus, was sentenced to four years in prison today. Toney had previously been found guilty of sexual battery, felony criminal confinement and misdemeanor public indecency and criminal recklessness. The other two students charged in the harassment, Joe Francisco Carnell and Charles McCloud-Smith, pleaded guilty to their charges. more ›

Chicago-born Savage Love columnist and author Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller have a message for all the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth out there, via a new YouTube video campaign: Whatever you're experiencing now, be it family rejection, bullying and harassment in schools or even thoughts of suicide, it gets better. more ›

Gov. Quinn signed into law yesterday anti-bullying legislation which expanded the state's bullying laws to include cyber-bullying as well as bullying that pertains to sexual orientation. Darren Reisberg, of the Illinois Board of Education, said that it gives the Board the authority to withhold financing from the school district if they don't feel particular concerns and specific incidents are being addressed: "We ultimately have the ability to come in and address the district's funding." Each school must also have gang-prevention training and the law also creates a 15-member bully-related task force. more ›

The 2006 MySpace suicide case has prompted the Illinois House to draft new legislation on “cyberbullying.” The Cyberbullying Law amends the existing Criminal Code and The Harassing and Obscene Communications Act to ban threats, harassment, and stalking done through the means of electronic communication, and makes violations punishable by up to three years in prison. more ›

Eighth grade students from Franklin Middle School in Champaign have written, produced, and acted in a short film about the effects of bullying. Part of an anti-bullying curriculum that will be instated by Franklin and other schools throughout the U.S. next year, the film shows some situational examples of bullying and its consequences, and hopes to make an impact on bullying by provoking classroom discussion on the topic. more ›