Barack Obama To Address LGBTQ Community at Virtual Pride Stonewall Day Event

Former President Barack Obama will deliver a special message to the LGBTQ community at Pride Live’s special Stonewall Day virtual event.

According to The Root, the event will take place Friday at 12:45 pm EST on Logo, Facebook, and YouTube pages. Obama has become a significant figure in the fight for gay rights in America, especially as President Donald Trump continues to strip away rights from the LGBTQ community.

Stonewall Day commemorates the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which took place from June 28 to July 3, 1969. The riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. It is typically cited as one of the most important events leading to the gay liberation movement.

Other celebrities including Cynthia Erivo, Valerie Jarrett, Pose’s Ryan Jamaal Swain, Taylor Swift, and Ellen DeGeneres will also speak and perform at the event. The event will also act as a fundraiser for LGBTQ+ youth organizations affected by COVID-19.

Obama has given several speeches this spring, returning to the public eye months before the 2020 Presidential Election. In May, Obama gave a commencement speech to HBCU graduates, offering hope and encouragement for the graduates in today’s climate.

“You’re the folks we’ve been waiting for to come along, that’s the power you hold,” he said. “I’m so proud of you and as you set out to change the world, we’ll be the wind in your back.”

Also in May, Obama also gave a virtual high school commencement speech after a student asked the former president if he could address students across the nation. In his address, Obama told students they’re the future and it’s their world to shape.

“With all the challenges this country faces right now, nobody can tell you “no, you’re too young to understand” or “this is how it’s always been done,” Obama said. “Because with so much uncertainty, with everything suddenly up for grabs, this is your generation’s world to shape.”