Christina Aguilera uses Pride show to highlight Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill
Christina Aguilera has used fashion as a way to make a statement, and the same rings true as she took the stage at Brighton & Hove Pride.
This year’s festival is all about love, protest and unity – and the iconic pop singer is the perfect fit to headline Pride.
“Tonight is all about freedom of expression, unity and love,” she told the crowd.
From her debut single ‘Genie in a Bottle’ to the infamous ‘Dirrty,’ and her 2002 single ‘Beautiful’ – which is widely regarded as one of the greatest LGBTQ+ anthems of all time – Aguilera has always used her voice for good.
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Aguilera’s set featured a touching montage condemning Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law.
Aguilera left the stage mid-set whilst her dancers held signs calling for “love,” “freedom,” “peace,” “unity,” “identity” and “equality”. And in the background, a video played attacking Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill, which was signed into law on 28 March this year.
Under the new law, public school teachers are not allowed to “encourage classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels”.
"It has been dubbed the 'Don't Say Gay' bill," the video read. "So today, in honour of Pride, let us shout."
Aguilera’s set was the perfect mix of political statements and her biggest hits.
Read more: The history of Brighton Pride
Nearly 80,000 people joined together at Preston Park, dancing and singing their hearts out to the pop princess.
And sharing the stage with her was British drag queen Bimini Bon Boulash, who, dressed head to toe in the Union Jack, belted out Aguilera’s hit, Glam.
From her rainbow coloured eye shadow and multicoloured PVC trench coats to a futuristic, fluorescent green bodysuit with 3D-printed horns, Aguilera commanded the crowd, paying homage to the LGBTQ+ community.
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But the most ‘beautiful’ part – quite literally – was when Aguilera ended the night singing her 2002 single ‘Beautiful,’ much to the crowd's delight. The pop princess wrapped herself in a progress Pride flag – a reinterpretation of the classic Pride flag to now recognise LGBTQ+ communities, as well as people of colour and the intersex community.
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