#BlackLivesMatter to be front of Global Pride

With two weeks to go, organisers of Global Pride 2020, which takes place online on Saturday, June 27, anticipate huge viewing figures after announcing the participation of former US Vice-President Joe Biden, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and artists Laverne Cox, Adam Lambert, Kesha, Todrick Hall plus many more.

One-hundred percent of funds raised by Global Pride 2020 will be distributed to Pride organisations in financial need. Further detail will be published in due course.

Global Pride leaders have said they will amplify black voices, acknowledging the international response to the death of George Floyd and the unprecedented demand for racial justice by working with founders of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Natalie Thompson, Co-Chair of the Global Pride organising committee, said: ‘As a black woman in the LGBTQ+ community, I feel we must confront the systemic racism and violence facing my black brothers, sisters and non-binary siblings, in the larger culture and within the LGBQ+ community. I could not think of a larger platform than Global Pride to do this. 

‘I am proud to work beside so many diverse colleagues from around the world. Our community knows well that we must confront hate and prejudice head-on. We have been watching an epidemic of violence against trans people of colour – mostly women – in the past decade and this larger discussion must be inclusive and all encompassing. All Black Lives Matter.’

Global Pride is a 24-hour stream of music, performances, speeches and messages of support, hosted by Todrick Hall on his YouTube channel on Saturday, June 27, as well as on iHeartRadio’s YouTube channel and on the Global Pride website. All content has been curated by Pride organisations across the globe who came together to organise Global Pride after the Covid-19 pandemic caused the cancellation or postponement of more than 500 Pride events worldwide.

In addition to big names in politics and music/the arts, public figures slated to speak include the UN’s Independent Expert on Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity Victor Madrigal Borloz, and European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli.

More than 500 Pride organisations submitted more than 1,000 pieces of content for Global Pride, and the volunteer production team are now editing the content to pull the 24-hour stream together. Global Pride is supported by partners YouTube and We Are Social, and media partners DIVA, Q.Media and Time Out.

Global Pride is live-streamed on Saturday, June 27 on the Global Pride website, on Todrick Hall’s YouTube channel and on iHeartRadio’s Youtube channel.