Global Pride Future Uncertain Even After 57 Million People View Broadcast

A decision on whether Global Pride will happen again has not yet been made even though the event reached a worldwide audience of more than 57 million people.

Arranged to celebrate Pride online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled many local pride festivals and Broadcast across YouTube, iHeart Radio, Facebook and Revry, the 27 hour long feature event reached viewers in 163 countries and had more than 500 Pride and LGBTQIA+ community organisations from 91 countries involved with the content.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau were two of the world leaders that took part alongside artists from across the globe and performances from pride events everywhere.

Co-chair of Global Pride Natalie Thompson said Global Pride’s tens of millions of viewers learned, cried and surely were moved to action to further confront hate and prejudice and fight for equality.

“As a Black woman in the LGBTQIA+ community, it was so important to confront the systemic racism and violence facing my Black brothers, sisters and non-binary siblings, in the larger culture and within the LGBTQIA+ community,” said Thompson.

“This was a historic success in every way and I was proud and humbled to work beside so many diverse colleagues from around the world and provide the community with the kind of hope and inspiration the Pride movement has for decades.”

Only $53,000 was raised for the Pride COVID19 Relief Fund which the 57 million viewers were encouraged to donate to across the day long event. Organisers said the amount exceeded their target of $50,000.

Kristine Garina, Co-Chair of Global Pride said LGBTQIA+ people have been affected financially by COVID19 and so fundraising was always going to be a challenge.

We are enormously grateful to everyone who donated, and we’d urge everyone who enjoyed Global Pride to donate anything they can. All funds will be directed to Pride organisations in need. There are a number of ways to donate, via our website,” said Garina.

A team of more than 100 volunteers from across the world worked on the Global Pride project, most from Pride organisations affected by COVID19. These included video editors, producers, and specialists in fundraising, communications, and nonprofit leadership.

“When we began this project we were well aware we were entering uncharted territory and had a near-unbelievable vision, but we needed to do something at a time when we had an international platform,” said Natalie Thompson.

“Pride is not simply about parties or parades; our work, from marches to programming to amplifying diverse voices in our community all year long, helps push the needle towards true equality and freedom for LGBTQIA+ people worldwide. Global Pride 2020 gave us an opportunity to allow Prides worldwide to tell their own stories to the largest audience in history that was accessible in new ways. Together, afterwards, it felt like we had accomplished a queer miracle, but given the feedback and response it was worth every moment of work.”

Organisers are now evaluating the project and will produce a report in due course. A decision on future Global Pride events has not yet been made.

Last Updated on Jul 7, 2020