“It’s easy to forget how rare it was for someone to be a gay ally”: The Celebration Tour is a bold reminder of Madonna’s loud, proud HIV activism
Madonna stood by the queer community during the HIV crisis – that’s why she’s mother. WORDS BY NICK LEVINE Since 1988, 1 December has been designated World AIDS Day.
It’s an opportunity to raise awareness, show support for people living with HIV and remember the many, many millions lost. When Madonna takes to the stage at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome tonight, she will mark World AIDS Day by dedicating her poignant ballad ‘Live to Tell’ to “all the bright lights” extinguished by the disease.
This moving tribute won’t be a one-off – it’s a staple of her latest live show, ‘The Celebration Tour’ – and reflects the singer’s four decades of allyship.
From her 1991 documentary Truth Or Dare to her Boy Scout stunt at the 2013 GLAAD Awards, the pop legend has long stood in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community.
