Students on college campuses and high schools across the country have pledged to wear purple Wednesday to honor the six recent gay suicide victims.

The victims, Tyler Clementi, Asher Brown, Seth Walsh, Justin Aaberg, Raymond Chase and Billy Lucas, were harassed both at school and via social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter, which eventually led to them taking their own lives.

Spirit Day is the social network’s response to the recent spike of cyberbullying ‘ more than one million people have RSVP’d to the Facebook event ‘ showing that despite Facebook’s position as a possible platform for bullying, it can also be used to show solidarity.

‘Purple represents spirit on the LGBTQ flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit,’ the event page reads.

Binghamton University’s Rainbow Pride Union, a Student Association group that represents the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/ally (LGBTQIA) community on campus, is supporting the event.

‘It’s a day to call awareness to the rising problem in our society,’ said Russell Heiman, RPU’s director of public relations.

Sara Aras, a junior majoring in biology, plans to show her support on Wednesday.

‘The recent teen suicides in the gay community are absolutely devastating,’ Aras said. ‘Unfortunately, these deaths show the degree of hopelessness that some people feel when it comes to bullying. This Wednesday, I will wear purple to honor those who felt they had no way out.’

Though the event is in response to the six publicized victims, according to Heiman, it’s really about gay bullying worldwide. Even using gay slurs as a form of insult, though not directly attacking an individual for being gay, is a form of gay bullying, as well.

‘Some people say ‘Get used to it, it’s part of the vernacular,’ but it’s sending the wrong message,’ Heiman said.

Celebrities have joined together as well to promote gay rights issues. Openly gay actress Wanda Sykes recently filmed a public service announcement chastising teenagers for their colloquially negative use of the word ‘gay.’ The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, has created PSAs, as well.

The ‘It Gets Better’ campaign was started by author and sex columnist Dan Savage, in conjunction with the Trevor Project, in response to 15-year-old Indiana teenager Billy Lucas’ suicide in September.

Chris Colfer of ‘Glee,’ Anne Hathaway, Tim Gunn and reality star Kristin Cavallari are only a few of the many visible personalities that have lent their voices to the cause, encouraging gay youth to realize that it does get better.

Last week was LGBT week and events were held worldwide to raise awareness.

Despite the global public support, there have been people against the movement, as well ‘ members of Facebook posted insulting messages and images on the event wall. In response, Facebook has teamed with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to combat hate-speech on the event page specifically and the entire social networking site in general.

American politicians have also made headlines for their anti-gay statements, including New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, who told press, ‘I don’t want [our children] to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option. It isn’t.’

Heiman begs to differ.

‘It doesn’t have to be a hard life,’ he said. ‘It’s society that’s made it this way.’