LoveLoud Music Festival draws 35,000 with message of LGBT acceptance
Mon. July 30, 2018 6:54 AM by OnTopMag.com
Saturday's second annual LoveLoud Music Festival more than doubled its attendance over its inaugural concert.
Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds helped organize LoveLoud, which raises money for several LGBT organizations, including the Trevor Project and GLAAD.
According to LoveLoud's Facebook page, it is dedicated to igniting "the vital conversation about what it means to unconditionally love, understand, accept and support LGBTQ+ youth in our communities."
At a press conference before the festival, Reynolds said that he hopes for the day when LoveLoud doesn't have to exist.
"To me, the LGBTQ youth that I've spent time with say their biggest desire is for this not to be a thing. To not to continually have to explain why they love who they love," Reynolds said.
Last year's debut festival drew 17,000. This year, more than 35,000 people filled Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah's campus.
The lineup included Zedd, Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda, Grace Vanderwaal, Neon Trees' Tyler Glenn, Vegabon, Tegan and Sara and others.
Imagine Dragons was introduced by Apple CEO Tim Cook, who told the crowd that LGBT youth are a "gift to the world."
(Related: At LoveLoud in Utah, Apple's Tim Cook tells LGBT youth they are a "gift to the world.")
Reynolds told the crowd: "I wish you could see how much we care about you, how much we love you, how much we support you."
"I accept you. I see you. I stand with you. I fight with you until the end. May Utah go down as being the first state to be the absolute lowest suicide rate," he added.
Reynolds, who was raised Mormon, stars in Believe, a documentary that looks into how the Mormon Church treats its LGBT members. HBO has acquired U.S. television rights to Believe.
In Utah, suicide is the leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 24, higher than the national average. Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth, according to the Trevor Projec
Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds helped organize LoveLoud, which raises money for several LGBT organizations, including the Trevor Project and GLAAD.
According to LoveLoud's Facebook page, it is dedicated to igniting "the vital conversation about what it means to unconditionally love, understand, accept and support LGBTQ+ youth in our communities."
At a press conference before the festival, Reynolds said that he hopes for the day when LoveLoud doesn't have to exist.
"To me, the LGBTQ youth that I've spent time with say their biggest desire is for this not to be a thing. To not to continually have to explain why they love who they love," Reynolds said.
Last year's debut festival drew 17,000. This year, more than 35,000 people filled Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah's campus.
The lineup included Zedd, Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda, Grace Vanderwaal, Neon Trees' Tyler Glenn, Vegabon, Tegan and Sara and others.
Imagine Dragons was introduced by Apple CEO Tim Cook, who told the crowd that LGBT youth are a "gift to the world."
(Related: At LoveLoud in Utah, Apple's Tim Cook tells LGBT youth they are a "gift to the world.")
Reynolds told the crowd: "I wish you could see how much we care about you, how much we love you, how much we support you."
"I accept you. I see you. I stand with you. I fight with you until the end. May Utah go down as being the first state to be the absolute lowest suicide rate," he added.
Reynolds, who was raised Mormon, stars in Believe, a documentary that looks into how the Mormon Church treats its LGBT members. HBO has acquired U.S. television rights to Believe.
In Utah, suicide is the leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 24, higher than the national average. Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth, according to the Trevor Projec
Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine