Dan Reynolds to raise funds for LGBTQ+ groups with LOVELOUD festival

[TaylorSwift 162,393]

Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds demonstrated his LGBTQ+ allyship once again by launching the fifth annual LOVELOUD music festival on Tuesday. 

This year will mark the festival's first time going on the road and expanding to different cities. The first stop will be in Washington on Oct. 17, then Salt Lake City on Nov. 3 and will wrap in Austin, Texas on Nov. 10.

"Utah had the highest suicide rate amongst their teenagers. And those who are most at risk are LGBTQ youth. That's why we started in Utah. It was a community I knew that was having real issues. And I think LOVELOUD has made a great impact there. And now we're excited to bring it to other places in the States", Dan Reynolds said

Reynolds — who was raised by a Mormon family in Las Vegas — had many friends growing up who felt "conflicted about their sexuality from a young age" because they were taught that their "innate sense of who to love was sinful."

"Growing up with friends like that and then getting to a position where I had a voice and have been given a lot of power and privilege... I met Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees bandleader), who I became really close with, who also grew up Mormon and didn't come out until later in his life after serving the Mormon mission."

Adding, "We came up with the idea together to start this festival to try to change the culture within Orthodox religions. And to help families know that it's not okay to not celebrate your LGBTQ youth. And in fact, when you're not doing that, you're setting your kid up for a life of just really devastating statistics."

"If our youth are not being celebrated in the same way that our heterosexual youth are, we're setting them up for a disastrous life. If they feel that dagger behind the back of, 'I accept you, but I don't agree with...,' whatever it is that's going to come after that, that's what's really hurting our youth. So in my home, I really try to instill upon my kids that in this house we celebrate love, period. Whoever you might love, period. It's not 'we accept it, we tolerate,' it's 'we celebrate it.' And I think that distinction can be the difference between life and death. As extreme as that sounds... it's the difference of I accept you or I tolerate you and I celebrate you."

Dan Reynolds has long established himself as an LGBTQ+ ally. In recent times, the 36-year-old singer who once met a GGD icon @Kimmo has become one of the most outspoken and recognisable straight allies in the music industry.

He regularly uses his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, even when it means losing fans or alienating himself from his faith background. He even donated his childhood home worth $1 million to a charity that will use it as a centre for LGBTQ+ youth.

source

 

[weed 78,905]

Such a king! Imagine most straight guys were like that... why is it so hard! I appreciate all he has done for the queer community, a beacon of allyship. 

[KevinWright 1,718]

He is such a gay icon 

Not many artists support the LGBT community the way he does.

[River 127,375]

I’m not a fan of their music but he’s such an important ally of the community, I can’t thank him enough for all the activism he did for us

[COOOK 76,406]

6 minutes ago, Teletubby said:

singer who once met a GGD icon @Kimmo

This is how articles about him should start from now on. Kimberly's impact is unmatched!

[Kimmo 82,283]

11 minutes ago, Teletubby said:

Dan Reynolds has long established himself as an LGBTQ+ ally. In recent times, the 36-year-old singer who once met a GGD icon @Kimmo has become one of the most outspoken and recognisable straight allies in the music industry.

Definitely a Cultural Reset for Mr Reynolds… 

I remember like if it was just yesterday, he pushed his kids and ex wife (seen on the back) away just to get a snap with my clown ghey ass 

[Kimmo 82,283]

10 minutes ago, COOOK said:

This is how articles about him should start from now on. Kimberly's impact is unmatched!

I wheeze when I read it

The Haus of Taste and their impact 

 

[weed 78,905]

4 minutes ago, Kimmo said:

Definitely a Cultural Reset for Mr Reynolds… 

I remember like if it was just yesterday, he pushed his kids and ex wife (seen on the back) away just to get a snap with my clown ghey ass 

I can't imagine how hard it was for you to tell him "Noo, daddy, we can't do it right here" 

[Kimmo 82,283]

Just now, weed said:

I can't imagine how hard it was for you to tell him "Noo, daddy, we can't do it right here" 

Oh yes… you have no idea how Hard it was…

[Controversiaga 15,994]

Very good of him. As much as I don’t care for their music, he seems to be the opposite of problematic and tends to never been in bad or unflattering headlines.  Unless I’m living under a rock and have missed any