Story
Following the success of last year's fundraiser, we have decided to host another one this year.
We have chosen the incredible OutRight International, who fights for human rights for LGBTQIA+ people everywhere. OutRight works at the international, regional and national levels to research, document, defend, and advance human rights for LGBTQIA+ people around the world.
This year, the world was made even more aware of just how compromised LGBTQIA+ people's rights were when Brunei passed a punishable by death law for gay sex. Though this law was soon lifted, PrideSOS ambassadors quickly became more aware of just how many countries have similar, cruel laws put in place. We found OutRight and felt as though the charity was perfect; it works globally, just like PrideSOS, so it meant that it would be something to support everyone everywhere rather than us picking multiple charities and splitting the funds.
Throughout 2019, we will be fundraising for this incredible cause with our merch sales and hosting raffles with amazing prizes. Be sure to follow@WeAreQueerSOS on Twitter and @PrideSOSProject on Instagram to keep up to date. You can find our merch here https://pridesos.wixsite.com/home/merch
About PrideSOS
Back in 2018, founder of PrideSOS, Jazz, was inspired by two friends of hers who identified as queer saw an escape in being a fan of 5SOS away from homophobia and the struggles of being part of the community.
"I’ve seen many fans online being out and proud but finding out in reality when logged off, they were in fact dealing with being closeted or living in a homophobic area," Says Jazz. " Being online and on a fan account is like a real “Hannah Montana” scenario but there’s no best of both worlds. In reality, these fans may be quite reserved and quiet but online, in a community full of fans, they can be their true selves.
Then, during pride month last year, she created the Twitter account @WeAreQueerSOS.
"I originally just started the account which was just going to produce content for queer LGBTQA+ fans but as we gained more interest, there was a demand for a project during the tour," she explains.
Fan projects are a trend which have emerged in recent years, where audiences participate in a project of sorts such as perhaps all holding up signs during a particular song. Jazz, along with some other fans who discovered the account, started organising one or two thinking that would be it, but Ashton Irwin - the drummer of 5SOS - saw us organising one and was really enthusiastic about it. Their lead guitarist, Michael Clifford, then tweeted out "#PrideSOS" which got the project global attention. Within less than a month, we had fans all around the world volunteering to host a project. The projects were like a celebration for the LGBTQIA+ fans within the fandom. They were a way of giving LGBTQIA+ fans a place of acceptance in a safe space such as a concert and celebrating with the band and fans alike.
For 2019, PrideSOS plans to focus on fundraising for OutRight International while also arranging meet ups around the world - particularly during June for Pride month - for fans to attend for their own little pride events. It can be hard for some people to attend a pride event, whether they are still closeted, cannot afford to attend or feel as though they don't have the most inclusive of pride events, so these meet ups act as a little alternative where fans can get together with online friends or make new ones and bond over being in the community and also being a fan of the band.