20/07/2021
The Attitude Magazine Foundation has donated thousands of pounds to a number of charities nominated by celebrities who took part in Songs that Shaped Them and Speaking of Pride. Both events were part of Pride at Home, an online festival in partnership with shopping app Klarna.
Songs That Shaped Their Lives was a six-part Attitude video series, in partnership with Spotify, with the guests revealing their favourite sounds of life, love, marriage and even would-be funeral soundtracks.
Radio 1’s Adele Roberts nominated Switchboard LGBT which provides a one-stop listening service for LGBTQ people on the phone, by email and through Instant Messaging, while broadcaster, author, activist and Celebrity Masterchef champion Riyadh Khalaf decided to help The Food Chain which ensures people living with HIV in London can access the nutrition they need to get well, stay well, and lead healthy, independent lives.
Drag DJ Jodie Harsh’s choice was akt, which supports young LGBTQ people aged 16-25 in the UK who are facing or experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment.
Model and activist Munroe Bergdorf opted to help the Black Trans Foundation which is building a world where Black trans and gender-nonconforming people have the same access to health care and opportunities as their cisgender counterparts.
Mermaids, which offers support to transgender and gender-variant children and young people, their families and supporting professionals, benefitted thanks to James Barr and Dan Hudson of A Gay and A NonGay podcast fame.
And last but not least, singer-songwriter Joesef’s chosen charity was LGBTQ Youth Scotland, which provides quality youth work to LGBTQ young people and works in partnership for LGBTQ equality and human rights.
Dr Mhairi Crawford, LGBT Youth Scotland’s chief executive, said they were delighted to receive £500 from the Attitude Magazine Foundation. “Every donation helps us build the future of youth work, both in-person and online, while making a real impact on the inclusivity of schools across the country,” she added. “Together, we'll make a life-changing impact on the lives of LGBTQ young people across Scotland."
Meanwhile, Speaking of Pride, empowered by Bentley, saw co-founder of UK Black Pride Lady Phyll, comedians Tom Allen and Rosie Jones, trans author Juno Dawson and Jamaican swimmer Michael Gunning choose readings that speak of Pride to them.
Lady Phyll turned to verse for her recital, delivering Progression, a poem from the book Striving For Equality, Freedom And Justice, by human rights campaigner Zita Holbourne.
Tom read lyrics from the Noël Coward song I Went To A Marvellous Party, while Rosie chose passages from Armistead Maupin’s More Tales Of The City.
Trans author Juno Dawson went for a piece from Virginia Wolf’s classic novel Orlando. And swimmer and recent Attitude cover star Michael Gunning tugged at the heartstrings by reading a passage from André Aciman’s brilliant Call Me By Your Name (peach not included).
Tom asked for the donation in his name to go to the Elton John Aids Foundation, Lady Phyll’s money went to the Kaleidoscope Trust, which calls for human rights for LGBTQ people across the Commonwealth, while Juno, Michael and Rosie all opted for Stonewall to benefit from their readings.
The amazing charity Curly’s Farm, part miniature farm and part memory-making holiday home, received a special award.