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Without the lively parades and celebrations that typically take place during Pride Month, June looks different in 2020. But HBO is keeping the celebration going with a brand new digital experience this year. The company’s Human By Orientation platform is hosting a 10-day long celebration on their website featuring LGBTQIA+ programming with music, dance, comedy and virtual events.
Each day, Human By Orientation will host new free events with LGTBQ stars like Janelle Monáe, Todrick Hall and Kim Petras. “Pride was, and is, a protest, originally led by Black and brown trans women, fighting for all LGBTQIA+ people,” HBO stated in a press release today. “It’s due to the activism of this oft overlooked community that Pride is the celebration we know today. Pride brings together the full spectrum of the queer family and it’s important — now more than ever — to stand in solidarity with those in need of support.”
To start the first-ever digital Pride, L.A. warehouse event organizers Por Detroit and Ostbahnhof will host a dance party at 9/8c June 18. Hall, an actor, singer and choreographer, will host a musical performance at 10/9c the next day to celebrate Juneteenth.
“I am very excited to perform a one-of-a-kind set that not only celebrates Pride, but also lands on this hallowed day in the Black community,” Hall said. “Especially now, it’s so important for Black queer artists to have our voices heard. I’m so thankful to HBO for this platform.”
HBO is also bringing in the cast of two of its shows to celebrate Pride. We’re Here fans can hear the secrets behind Season 1 at a drag brunch hosted by Shangela, Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka O’Hara June 20, while some of the Legendary cast will teach viewers during a vogue class June 22. Other events scheduled for the celebration include a comedy set with Cameron Esposito, Drag Queen Story Hour and dance party with Chicago DJ Slo ‘Mo.
“Pride has always been very important to us at HBO, now more than ever,” said Jackie Gagne, Vice President, Multicultural Marketing at HBO. “Black lives matter, Black trans lives matter, Black queer lives matter. Our goal of Human By Orientation has always been to help the community celebrate their proudest and queerest selves.”
The Human By Orientation site will also highlight LGBTQIA+ and civil rights organizations like the National Black Justice Coalition, Ali Forney Center and Audre Lorde Project to encourage visitors to get involved and help out beyond Pride Month.
HBO’s Pride celebration takes place June 18-28. To see the full schedule of events, check out the Human By Orientation website.
