White House's Jean-Pierre dons purple for briefing

Highlighting both Domestic Violence awareness month and Spirit Day, supporting LGBTQI awareness, deputy White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wore purple on Thursday to draw attention to both issues.

"Domestic violence affects millions of people in the United States," Jean-Pierre said. "It harms the physical and emotional health of survivors and their families, undermines communities and is a stain on the conscience of our country."

She said one in four women and one in ten men have experienced sexual violence, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner.

In 1989, Congress declared October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the month used as to raise awareness about signs of abuse and advocate for policy changes.

One specific domestic violence awareness campaign is Purple Thursday, which urges people to flood social media with pictures of themselves wearing purple.

This year, Purple Thursday also coincides with Spirit Day, an annual LGBTQ awareness day.

Jean-Pierre said she hoped that young people will understand "that they are supported and represented in the highest levels of government today."

"Our administration stands with you," she said. "We support you and we love you."

Jean-Pierre is the first openly gay woman to deliver a White House press briefing and only the second Black woman in history to take on the role.

IMAGE: AP