Imagine Dragons Spoke Out About LGBTQ+ Rights at the BBMAs
In his acceptance speech for the Top Rock Artist Billboard Music Award, frontman of Imagine Dragons, Dan Reynolds, made a powerful statement about LGBTQ+ Rights.
Imagine Dragons was honored at the Billboard Music Awards on May 1st with the Top Rock Artist Award. They were full of gratitude. However, they did not just use their international platform to say thank you, they used it to talk about a serious problem facing the US, Conversion Therapy for LGBTQ+ individuals. It was an incredible example of responsible use of privilege and using your voice to make a difference.
.@Imaginedragons take home this year’s #BBMAs Top Rock Artist! 🤘 pic.twitter.com/Zwnfh2nHme
— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 2, 2019
“I just want to say that there are still 34 states that don’t have laws banning LGBTQ+ conversion therapy… it’s not working, it needs to change.” This statement is huge and incredibly true. More than half of US states still allow conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ individuals, which can be incredibly damaging, and lead to long term negative health effects in those who go through it. It truly was amazing to see an artist that so many people look up to take a national stage and tackle an issue head-on. It is one of the best parts about the current group of artists we are putting the spotlight on.
tix on sale now… https://t.co/nwFlMkDSui pic.twitter.com/cB6hAIYHSf
— Imagine Dragons (@Imaginedragons) April 23, 2019
Imagine Dragons will be performing at the Formula One Grand Prix in Austin, TX on November 1st. Tickets are on sale now, so if you will be in the area or have the availability please go support this group.
I am an undergraduate student at the University of Washington studying Musical Theatre and Psychology. I live and work in Seattle, a city I am totally in love with, and am a born and raised Pacific Northwest baby. I love music, dancing, video games, comic books, coloring, and gluten free pasta.
