HBO CELEBRATES PRIDE WITH ONLINE PROGRAMMING

Musical performances, drag brunches, underground DJ sets, and a queer comedy night are part of HBO’s first-ever digital Pride celebration on the Human By Orientation site, which starts Thursday and runs through 6/28.

The activism of the oft overlooked community of black and brown trans women provides the spectrum for this LGBTQIA+ programming.

HBO’s Pride 2020 festivities kick off Thursday night with Por Detroit x Ostbahnhof, two of L.A.'s warehouse parties coming together to show off the city's diverse and colorful community. Todrick Hall will present a special live musical performance celebrating Juneteenth on Friday.

HBO’s We’re Here cast (Shangela, Bob the Drag Queen and Eureka O’Hara) will host a drag brunchSaturday, followed by a late-night dance party from queer music collective, Internet Friends. On Sunday, dancer/choreographer Ryan Heffington will lead a sweaty dance class; Sunday afternoon includes a Queer Comedy Night featuring Cameron Esposito and others. Kim Petras delivers an hour-long performance on 6/27 and Janelle Monáe closes HBO’s virtual Pride celebration with an intimate performance on 6/28.

“Pride has always been very important to us at HBO, now more than ever,” said Jackie Gagne, Vice President, Multicultural Marketing at HBO. “Black lives matter, Black trans lives matter, Black queer lives matter. Our goal of Human By Orientation has always been to help the community celebrate their proudest and queerest selves.”

The site will also highlight LGBTQIA+ and civil rights nonprofit partners including the National Black Justice Coalition, Ali Forney Center, Audre Lorde Project and others.