Madonna Plans to ‘Celebrate’ the LGBTQ+ Community in Nashville
Madonna, the Queen of Pop, has added a stop in Nashville, Tennessee, to her ongoing world tour, set to kick off in Vancouver in July. The popstar has released a statement that she will be “celebrating” the LGBTQ+ community during her show in Nashville, and this move comes after Tennessee became the first state to ban drag shows in public spaces.
The laws state that drag shows must be more than 1,000 feet away from schools, public parks, or places of worship. Madonna has expressed concern about how these laws are creating an unsafe environment for the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans women of color. It is a harsh reality that these anti-trans and anti-drag laws are cropping up throughout the country, making America an unsafe place for the most vulnerable citizens.
Madonna Criticizes Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation as “Unfounded and Pathetic”
Madonna criticized the laws as “unfounded and pathetic” and labeled them as so-called laws to protect children. The Celebration Tour billed as a greatest hits tour would feature a one-of-a-kind experience from Bob the Drag Queen, winner of Season 8 on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” across all dates. The tour would play Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on December 22nd as part of several other new show dates running into late January 2024.
Madonna is known to speak out against oppression faced by the LGBTQ+ community and has always encouraged people never to give up and keep fighting for change. Her advocacy for gay rights earned her GLAAD’s Advocate for Change Award in 2019. GLAAD commended Madonna for using her powerful platform to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s, including performing in benefit shows and putting a facts sheet about AIDS in each copy of her top-selling 1989 record Like A Prayer.
Proceeds of the Nashville Show Will Benefit Trans-Rights Organizations
A portion of the proceeds from Madonna’s concert will be donated to trans-rights organizations. The move by the pop sensation has been widely applauded, and it is hoped that more people and celebrities would lend their voice to support the LGBTQ+ community.
The Nashville show will celebrate the beauty of the queer community, according to Madonna’s statement. It is a welcome respite for many in Tennessee, where lawmakers are implementing oppressive laws that are discriminatory to such groups. Madonna plans to use her powerful platform and voice to draw attention to these issues and continue advocating for change.
In conclusion, Madonna’s addition of the Nashville show to her tour is a bold move that shows that celebrities can use their platforms for good. It is hoped other celebrities would follow in her footsteps and take a stand on issues affecting minority groups.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
