Last year, Lil
Nas X celebrated the release of his then-upcoming album, Montero, with a
baby registry, asking fans to donate to an LGBTQ+ organization of their
choosing. That registry garnered almost $500,000 and now, those seeds are
bearing fruit.
Almost half of
a million dollars went to Gilead Sciences' COMPASS grantees, which includes
organizations that are addressing the growing HIV epidemic in the Southern U.S.
on the frontlines.
“Communities
all across the South, like my home state of Georgia, are being transformed by
the work of COMPASS grantees,” said the Grammy-winner in a statement. “The
Montero baby registry was created to send resources to grassroots groups
serving the most vulnerable. Funds raised will go to people living with HIV and
inspire a new generation of leaders who will keep pushing for HIV education and
one day, a cure.”
One of the
grantees is Houston’s Normal Anomaly, an organization that "supports
its community by providing HIV tests, at-home tests, transportation for
appointments and job interviews, employment assistance opportunities, sexual
education classes, sex positive, liberation and LGBTQ+ affirming trainings, and
events to uplift Black, queer+ persons and their culture."
"Lil Nas X has
allowed our organization to dream big!" said Ian L. Haddock,
Executive Director, The Normal Anomaly Initiative, Inc. "Through
these funds, we are not only able to create a brave space for community, celebrate
entrepreneurship and have queer musical artists headline a festival, but we are
able to continue to raise money through ticket sales to impact necessary
programming including our community burial fund, transgender services and
programs that directly impact people living with and impacted by HIV."
On April 30th,
the Normal Anomaly is hosting the Black Queer+ Advancement
Festival (BQ+AF) in Houston, which will provide "a safe space to
celebrate being Black and LGBTQIA+."
Read more about the
festival here.
We're so proud
to see all the good Lil Nas X is doing with his platform!
SOURCE: PRIDE DOT COM
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