In celebration of this year’s pride month, YouTube will be airing a virtual event on 25th June 2021. Joining the already confirmed hosts will be Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish.
Sir John has taken to social media to announce the news, the music icon has posted on his Instagram page to give fans information concerning the special event.
The celebration, titled ‘YouTube Pride 2021’, will be formatted as a multi-hour event held over five hours where each entertainer will host their party on their own YouTube channel. Sir John and Furnish’s party will be in support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the charity founded by Sir John in 1992 which supplies medical and emotional support for people living with HIV and AIDS.
Other charities in which the ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ singer’s event will support include the Trevor Project and Akt, a charity that helps combat homelessness for LGBTQ+ youth. Both charities are associated with ‘YouTube Pride 2021’ and will be the recipient of the donations and profits made from the event.
The various hosts’ parties will be a collective mix of performances, musical guests and fun challenges, whilst raising money for the charities connected to the event. Viewers will also have the chance to take part, all are encouraged to send videos, message, questions for the hosts and their own personal pride stories. The video or audio clips will be uploaded to a microsite, the system has been set up by the producers for the event at JA Films.
The full list of special musical guests includes Gigi Gorgeous, Denali Foxx, Elle of the Mills, KingOfReads, Kim Chi, Monet X Change, Jade Fox, Jackson Bird, PatrickStarr, Alannized, Peppermint, the Fitness Marshall, Tyler Oakley and model and activist Munroe Bergdorf. The other hosts joining Sir Elton John and David Furnish for the event include Demi Lovato whose steam will start at 4 pm, starting at 3 pm will be Trixie Mattel, Daniel Howell will host his event at 1 pm. Joining the star-studded roster of hosts will be Years & Years singer Olly Alexander with Mawaan Rizwan, the comedian and actor known for his stand-up career as well as his writing on Netflix series ‘Sex Education’.
Alexander recently stole the show at this year’s Brit awards with his duet with Sir Elton John, the pair performed a cover of the Pet Shop Boys hit ‘It’s a Sin’. Alexander and Rizwan will be hosting a virtual pride party for the event, the duo’s virtual celebration will mark the reopening of East London starting from 8 Pm. The duo’s event will be streamed from a Victorian pub that has transformed into the perfect party venue, viewers will get to view the different rooms and also participate from the comfort of their living rooms.
Viewers at home will be treated to an hour full of comedy, music and fun along with a fan Q&A and exclusive performances by Alexander and guests. The duo’s party hour will be in support of the charities Akt and The Trevor Project, a non-profit focused on the prevention of suicide within the LGBTQ+ community.
The event will not only celebrate all aspects of love and community but is also set to raise an incredible amount of money for the associated charities. During June, any money donated to The Trevor Project will also be matched by YouTube.
