Disney+ Pride “This is Me” Celebration Streams Next Sunday
With Nina West hosting, Disney+’s “This Is Me: Pride Celebration Spectacular” hits streaming services next weekend. Toddrick Hall, Hayley Kiyoko, and the beloved Kermit the Frog also join the star-studded celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.
Image Credit: Mega; AP; Everett; Deadline
The virtual concert to celebrate Pride month airs on Sunday, June 27 at 8pm EST on Facebook and YouTube. With the celebration, the concert aims to reinterpret classic Disney hits through a LGBTQ+ viewpoint.
Directed by Ann Marie Pace, the celebration brings together numerous musical stars. DCapella, Alex Newell, Jacki Cox, Michael James Scott, Jesse James Keital, and Frankie A. Rodriguez and Joe Serafini join the cast to perform the legendary tunes.
We’re throwing a #DisneyPlusPride party! Join us Sunday, June 27 for the first ever #DisneyPlus ‘This Is Me’ #Pride Celebration Spectacular, hosted by @NinaWest with musical performances by @TheAlexNewell, @MrFrankieAR and @Joe_Serafini_, @HayleyKiyoko, @Todrick, & more. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/C2I08cpbKY
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) June 17, 2021
The concert advocates for GLSEN, which is a non-profit group that works to ensure students in the LGBTQ+ community attend school in environments that are safe and devoid of bullying and harassment.
Image Credit: Disney
Next year, Disney Concerts will debut their first LGBTQ+ series of concerts with “Disney Pride in Concert.” Boston Gay Men’s Chorus headlines the first event, set for production on June 25 and June 26, 2022 at Boston Symphony Hall.
Further Disney Inclusion Efforts
Also, the Walt Disney Company continues to push for more inclusion and diversity in its programming and workplaces.
Image Credit: Orlando Sentinel
“It’s important to me to share how we’re creating a place where everyone is welcome and taking action to create meaningful change,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences & Products, in an announcement earlier this year on Disney Parks Blog.
The change allowed cast members to share a bit more of their personality in their daily dress, including exposing tatoos, more flexibility in hair styling, and a bit of freedom in fingernail designs.
Photo Credit: Disneyland Paris
Disney+ also continues to push the envelope for more inclusive stories and storytellers. One such work is the 2023 release of “Iwájú,” which is a new animated series. The cooperation represents the first partnership between Walt Disney Animation Studios and Kugali, an African animation company.
Celebrating LGBTQ+ with Disney+ Programming
Image: Disney+
On last week’s epsiode of “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” character Seb serendaded his boyfriend, Carlos, with “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. Serafini and Roriguez, who will appear in the Pride celebration concert, play Seb and Carlos respectively.
“I’ve been singing along with Miley Cyrus since the song first came out when I was a kid,” Serafini said about the scene in an article in Out magazine. “And I think the way the writers incorporated it into Seb’s storyline is really beautiful. We all have our own ‘climbs’ in life, and I think LGBTQ+ youth can especially relate to that idea — appreciating the journey to living out loud, unapologetically. And navigating the rough patches along the way.”
This is big.
We’re throwing a #DisneyPlusPride party and I’ll be hosting and performing! Join us Sunday, June 27 for the first ever @DisneyPlus ‘This Is Me’ #Pride Celebration Spectacular. Tune in at https://t.co/moFjARsU67 and https://t.co/wKtksQVApC at 8pm EST. #pride #disney pic.twitter.com/yEtJTZMkqZ
— Nina West (@NinaWest) June 17, 2021
Make sure to check out the “This is Me: Pride Celebration Spectacular” concert next Sunday.
