She’s a fun performer and a fierce member of the LGBTQ community. Now she’s hitting up South Florida. Rita Ora is headlining the Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival this Saturday morning, March 15.
AHF, the event producer, made the announcement with less than two weeks to go before the walk. Joining her on stage will be Spinderella, legendary DJ to another pair of allies, Salt ‘n Pepa.
Ora came out as bisexual in 2018, when she released the song Girls. While some said it relied on old tropes to characterize bisexuals, she said her goal was to make it a bi-anthem and that she has had relationships with both women and men.
Spinderella also loves her gays. She’s played plenty of Prides and opened up for Ricky Martin when he headlined AHF’s World AIDS Day concert in Miami last December.
“We are excited to have DJ Spinderella’s talent on stage once again here in South Florida as we celebrate our 20th annual Florida AIDS Walk & Music Festival,” said Tracy Jones, AHF Southern Bureau Chief. “Her commitment to safer sex awareness dates back decades, and her talent is timeless.”
Youth Movement
AHF is focused on fighting HIV/AIDS and making sure young generations understand it is still an omnipresent health threat. To that end, they have added PRISM as a new beneficiary this year.
“We’re the first youth-led beneficiary in the 20-year history of the walk,” PRISM founder Maxx Fenning said. “I’m so proud we’ve been able to build an organization that benefits from the Florida AIDS Walk.”
The group works with Florida schools and students to spread LGBTQ health awareness, a job that keeps getting harder in the age of “Don’t Say Gay” and abstinence only education rules.
The group works with gay-straight alliances (GSAs) and has a school ambassador program. AHF will match 75% of the funds PRISM raises for the walk, up to $150,000. Different beneficiaries get different matching amounts.
“It’s gonna be an absolute blast,” Fenning said.
What To Know
The walk starts and ends at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, and the area opens at 8 a.m. The walk steps off at 10 a.m. Spinderella starts at 11:30 a.m. with Ora taking the stage at 12:30 p.m.
Parking is extremely limited and carpool/rideshare is encouraged. Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses are recommended, along with an ID and credit card for food and drinks.
Weapons, outside alcohol, drones, and glassware are strictly prohibited. Wagons, pets, coolers, beach umbrellas, and picnic baskets are discouraged.
To learn more or make a donation, visit FloridaAIDSWalk.org.
Photo via Facebook.
