Image credit: Cosmopolitan UK
Over the weekend, GLAAD brought together stars like Kesha and Melissa Etheridge for the benefit livestream “Together in Pride.” The project was for the benefit of disadvantaged LGBTQ community centers, and was able to raise $250,000.
The Billy Eichner and Lilly Singh-hosted event not only saw performances from Etheridge and Kesha, but also saw appearances from Barbara Streisand, Tatiana Maslany, Sharon Stone, Matt Bomer, Sean Hayes, Javier Muñoz, Adam Lambert, Michelle Visage, Bebe Rexha, Nats Getty, Dan Levy, Gigi Gorgeous, MJ Rodriguez, Kathy Griffin, Wilson Cruz, and many more.
Streamed over the GLAAD YouTube channel and Facebook page so as to adhere to social distancing rules that effectively stem the spread of the coronavirus, the event was successful in raising money for CenterLink, which is a coalition of more than 250 LGBTQ community centers in the U.S., Canada, China, Mexico, and Australia.
Some of the highlights of the event include former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg talking about his time as a homeless teen, actors MJ Rodriguez and George Salazar performing a scene from “Little Shop of Horrors,” and Jonathan Van Ness talking about living with HIV.
GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said that these local community centers are important to a lot of LGBTQ people, especially young ones, and that it was only right for the community to support them as the COVID-19 pandemic makes it hard for them to survive financially.
Aside from raising money for these disadvantaged LGBTQ community centers, Eliis said GLAAD wanted to “amplify messages of acceptance and affirmation to the LGBTQ community and people living with HIV during this unprecedented time.” Ellis also executive produced the event.
This event is yet another being staged by celebrities to help out those less advantaged during this pandemic. Last week, the star-studded “One World: Together at Home” was held to support healthcare workers as well as to raise funds for COVID-19 response efforts.
