Olly Alexander Uses Glastonbury Stage to Thank LGBT+ Campaigners from History
Years & Years singer Olly Alexander used his stage at Glastonbury to thank LGBT+ campaigners form history and to point out how much more work needed to be done.
“I spent a lot of time feeling ashamed and now it’s like I’m making up for lost time,” he said.
“The only reason I’m able to be up here, is because of all the people that have come before me, that have fought for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
“Whether we like it or not, history, it really maters… The worlds has changed so much in 50 years.
“But our history is what shapes us into who we are…”
Alexander has used his platform previously to criticise brands for appropriating the rainbow flag and not making any meaningful contribution to the LGBT+ community.
“No matter where you stand on corporate brand-pride tie-ins, it’s hard not to feel this year’s 2019 Pride collection of mouthwash, t-shirts, socks… banks and sandwiches has felt especially icky,” he said.
“Representation matters, of course, and corporate Pride / rainbow capitalism might be hideous but at least queer people are getting paid.
“Re-doing your logo in a rainbow and ‘donating a portion of proceeds’ is not enough.”
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