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29 March 2022

Lil Nas X’s ‘Baby Registry’ raises $500,000 for HIV advocacy organisations

"Lil Nas used his platform to uplift the LGBT+ community," the director of The Normal Anomaly Initiative tells Attitude

By Jamie Tabberer

Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: Sony

Lil Nas X’s utterly inspired fundraising idea The Montero Baby Registry has raised $500,000 (£380,500) for HIV advocacy organisations, it has been revealed.

The ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’ singer Lil Nas spearheaded the fundraiser last September to coincide with the release of his critically-acclaimed debut album, MONTERO.

The star, who came out as gay in 2018, posted photos of himself with a baby bump in the run-up to the LP’s release, saying he was “pregnant” with it.


He added on Twitter at the time: “Me and my team have set up a ‘baby registry’ for many charities if you guys would like to donate.” Via a dedicated site, fans could donate to one of 13 charities, such as Miley Cyrus’s non-profit Happy Hippie. 

All the groups are part of the Gilead COMPASS Initiative®, which works to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Southern United States.

“Lil Nas X used his platform to uplift the LGBT+ community”

One of the recipients is The Normal Anomaly Initiative, linked to the song ‘Life After Salem’. It is described on the Baby Registry site as “an organization that works to build power among black gay men and work in coalition and solidarity with all movements committed to social and racial justice.”

 
 
 
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A post shared by MONTERO (@lilnasx)


Ian L. Haddock, Executive Director of TNAI. tells Attitude: “Because Lil Nas X used his platform to uplift the LGBT+ community, we are able to pay this forward in Texas. Texas is a place that is actively creating more barriers to living authentically including attacks on LGBTQ+ kids.

“Representation and brave spaces are necessary. Our upcoming Black Queer AF Music Festival features an all-Black, queer and allied line-up that will serve as a safe space for celebration of being oneself, as well as provide HIV education.”

Lil Nas X added: “Communities all across the South, like my home state of Georgia, are being transformed by the work of COMPASS grantees. The Montero baby registry was created to send resources to grassroots groups serving the most vulnerable. Funds raised will go to people living with HIV and inspire a new generation of leaders who will keep pushing for HIV education and one day, a cure.”

A TNAI rep added that the organisation “supports its community by providing HIV tests, at-home tests, transportation for appointments and job interviews, employment assistance opportunities, sexual education classes, sex-positive liberation and LGBTQ+ affirming trainings, and events to uplift Black, queer+ persons and their culture.

Their latest initiative includes the Black Queer+ Advancement Festival (BQ+AF) taking place on April 30th that provides a safe space to celebrate being Black and LGBTQIA+.”

Attitude’s new-look March/April issue is out now.

 
 
 
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A post shared by MONTERO (@lilnasx)

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