WWE® and The Creative Coalition will support GLAAD’s Spirit Day by “going purple” through their joint Be a STAR (Show Tolerance And Respect) anti-bullying initiative. Support kicked off yesterday morning at a Be a STAR anti-bullying rally in New York and will continue through Spirit Day next Thursday, October 16 with promotion onTheCreativeCoalition.org, WWE.com, WWECommunity.com and on WWE and Be a STAR social media assets, reaching more than 400 million people globally.
As part of The Creative Coalition and WWE’s support for GLAAD, a Be a STAR Alliance Member, the Be a STAR logo was turned purple, a first in the program’s history, and students at the rally were given co-branded t-shirts that encouraged them to “Go Purple” on Spirit Day, show their support for LGBT youth and speak out against bullying. WWE has supported GLAAD’s Spirit Day since 2011.
“No one should be bullied because of who they are,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “GLAAD is proud to stand with WWE in the fight against bullying and in a visible display of support for LGBT youth.”
“Spirit Day is an important time for everyone to stand up against bullying and discrimination,” said Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer. “WWE is proud to support the LGBT community and GLAAD by spreading the message of respect and inclusion through our global platforms.”
“The Creative Coalition is proud that GLAAD is a member of our Be a STAR Alliance and even more proud to support Spirit Day as an initiative that embodies the tenets of the Be a STAR program,” said CEO of The Creative Coalition Robin Bronk. “We commend GLAAD for Spirit Day and believe it enhances our commitment to utilizing the resources of the arts and entertainment community to increase acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.”
Additionally, WWE and Be a STAR will stand up against bullying and support GLAAD’s Spirit Day by promoting the initiative through homepage takeovers on WWE.com and WWECommunity.com as well as social media support from WWE Superstars and Divas.
Spirit Day was started in 2010 as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. Millions wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and to speak out against bullying. With GLAAD’s help, Spirit Day has since garnered widespread support from entertainment organizations, sports leagues, celebrities, TV news and entertainment programs, corporations, schools, local communities, and even national landmarks.
According to GLSEN’s 2011 National School Climate Survey, 63.5% of LGBT students reported feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and 43.9% because of their gender expression. GLSEN also reported that 81.9% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation and 63.9% because of their gender expression.
To find out more about how you can help, check out beastaralliance.org and start (or keep) showing tolerance and respect in your community today!
While we’ve previously taken a look at the more parent-centric elements of BloggerBash 2014, there was plenty for kids at the conference too. In particular, there was the KidzVuz Back to School Bash, a chance to see some of the hottest kids’ products in movies, toys, games, entertainment, and more that are on the market right now!
Guardians of the Galaxy
Sure to be one of this summer’s big hits, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is the latest installment in the comic book company’s expansive cinematic universe. Building on the success of the Avengers franchise, the movie takes viewers across the expanses of space as we follow the titular heroes– Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot– in their quest to team up and save the universe. The movie, which took this weekend’s box office by storm, will definitely be a favorite for the tween crowd and up.
Hasbro
What’s a superhero flick without action figures? Hasbro featured off its tie-in figures, masks, and more for Guardians of the Galaxy, while also giving ample show to some of its other lines like My Little Pony and classic games like Monopoly (the latest version of which features a personal touch, with the ability to customize the board with personal pawns, locations, and more!) There was definitely something for everyone in the family to enjoy at Hasbro!
WWE
Finally, we got a chance to look at the latest from perennial favorite WWE. The company’s got plenty to celebrate this year, with Wrestlemania 30 and major movie appearances by plenty of its stars (like Dave Bautista’s role as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy.) There were even appearances by WWE wrestlers, like Total Divas star Natalya!
In celebration of Father’s Day this year, WWE Superstars are inspiring dads throughout the country to get more involved in their children’s lives. WWE is joining the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Family Assistance, the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, and the Ad Council to launch a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) that encourage dads to recognize their critical role and give them the tools to help get more involved. The ads, which feature stars like Roman Reigns, Alberto Del Rio, and Titus O’Neil, remind fathers across the country to “Take Time to Be A Dad Today” by showing these WWE stars sharing heartfelt moments with their own children. You can watch the videos below.
In addition to these videos, WWE Superstar Titus O’Neil shared the following letter about the importance of being a father:
Fatherhood is the greatest responsibility and honor a man can have placed upon him. I never met my biological father, nor did I grow up with a male figure in my home. I didn’t grow up with money, a nice home or fancy clothes. In fact, I spent the majority of my childhood living in the projects or with family members. However, thanks to my mom, I had no shortage of love. Because of that I feel very strongly that love, faith, strength and courage are the most important elements of growing and learning at any stage of life. Now, as a father, I strive to demonstrate these in my home because the greatest lesson my kids have taught me is how to love people unconditionally.
Being a father has allowed me to keep things in perspective, for which I am extremely grateful. When a young fan asks for an autograph or picture or when I visit hospitals and schools, I always think, “What if these were my kids? What if my children were sick or didn’t have the resources to obtain a great education, live in a safe neighborhood or live a comfortable life?” I am very grateful when people go the extra mile for my kids, and I make it a point to always return that favor. Life as a WWE Superstar is hectic and stressful at times, but the ability to positively change lives on a daily basis motivates me to work hard. My kids could not care less if I win or lose a match or if I have a bad day at work. I’ve come to find not just my kids but WWE fans love and respect me regardless because beyond the lights, cameras and the action in the ring, they continue to see a real, genuine person. My philosophy with my kids is simple…I expect them to do their best and be the best people they can be and they expect the same of me.
To me, being a father is simple. I live for my kids, not through my kids. I’m not trying to force them into doing the things I did as a child in sports or extracurricular activities because they are who God made them to be. As their father, my job is to provide my children with the best positive guidance, motivation, discipline and resources possible to help them reach their greatness. I do this with plenty of love and try to be a living example instead of a telling example. I’ve learned kids respond more to what they see you do, as opposed what you tell them to do. I am their first role model, and I take that very seriously. They might not take the same path I did, but as long as they respect people, work hard, are positive about life and give their absolute best effort, I always will be proud of them.
To me, the most important part of being a father is being present. Kids really remember the moments and time you spend with them more than the things you buy them. The smallest moments make the biggest impact on a child’s life. I often am asked what I like most about being a father and my answer is always that I love everything about being a father – the challenges, the responsibility, the discipline, the laughter, the school functions…you name it, I love it. Father’s Day is really a special day, but for me, every day is Father’s Day because I get another day to enjoy all of the wonderful characteristics my two sons display. I also get to be part of a very great fraternity….FATHERHOOD! I am honored, humbled and proud to be a father.
Scooby-Doo: Wrestlemania Mystery follows Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, and the rest of Mystery, Inc. to WWE city after Shaggy and Scooby win tickets to Wrestlemania. But when the friends arrive there, they realize that WWE City is being plagued by mysterious attacks from a ghostly bear that threatens to bring an end to Wrestlemania and the WWE itself! Scooby and the gang team up with a host of WWE Superstars like John Cena, Sin Cara, AJ Lee, and more to get to the bottom of this and save Wrestlemania—but will they be able to solve the mystery in time? Or will the ghost bear stop Wrestlemania and put an end to the WWE’s legacy? Find out in Scooby-Doo: Wrestlemania Mystery!
This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend the premiere of Scooby-Doo: Wrestlemania Mystery, and it was excellent! Many of the wrestlers that appeared in the film were there (like Kane, The Miz, and Triple H), and Scooby-Doo himself even made an appearance! The movie itself was a lot of fun, and definitely worth seeing for fans of Scooby-Doo and WWE alike—it’s packed with laughs and thrills in traditional Scooby-Doo fashion.
