Virgin Atlantic will host the world's first 'pride flight' next year, staffed entirely by members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
Departing from London Heathrow Airport in June 2019, the flight will take travelers to New York City, where World Pride festivities will be held on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
Virgin teamed up with Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Tituss Burgess to promote the flight, which is said to include an on-board DJ, drag bingo, speed dating and a Judy Garland singalong.
“At a time when we’re seeing the rights of minority groups under threat, it is more important than ever we stand up and make our voices heard,” Burgess said in a statement, according to Attitude magazine.
Titus Burgess will join travelers for the flight. Source: Virgin Atlantic
He continued: “The LGBT+ community has made enormous strides over the last 50 years, and I’m so proud to partner with Virgin Holidays and Virgin Atlantic to mark this occasion in style and celebrate the hard-won freedoms from those who came before us."
Virgin has pledged to donate a portion of all ticket sales to The Attitude Magazine Foundation, which promotes LGBTIQ+ community initiatives in the UK.
“We take our commitments to diversity and inclusion seriously, but you can rest assured we have a lot of fun along the way,” said Mark Anderson, global LGBT lead for Virgin Group, adding that the flight was shaping up to be “a show-stopping, ground-breaking, one-of-a-kind experience.”
