Donatella Versace Brings on her allyship with LGBTQIA+ community

"The sinking of the #ddlzan is a defeat that affects us all. Yesterday we took a leap into the past of which - as an Italian citizen - I am ashamed. I will never stop lending my voice and giving my support to create a just society," the godmother of the 2019 World Pride had thus said at the sinking of the Zan DDL last year, demonstrating her coaching of the LGBQTIA+ community. With the start of Pride Month, Donatella Versace announced the creation of the Versace Foundation, which will work on various fronts to support, promote and disseminate culture and education to preserve and pass on the culture of honouring Pride. Through philanthropy activities that will include projects to promote issues of equality, well-being and safety, the Versace Foundation will push for equity and break down the discrimination that still prevails in today's culture, despite the great strides made carrying the rainbow flag around the world. 

"I am proud that Versace has always been known for its inclusiveness. I am thrilled for the support and assistance that the Versace Foundation will bring to the LGBTQIA+ community".

Donatella added in the press note accompanying the announcement of a $10,000 donation from Capri Holdings, which is equally interested in the cause in terms of values and positioning, as stated by John D. Idol, president and CEO parent company that also owns Jimmy Choo's shares:

"We all have the right to be accepted, to be loved and to be our most authentic selves. The Versace Foundation allows us to further our quest for LGBTQIA+ equity, well-being and safety, as well as continue to be an ally for the LGBTQIA+ community."

Versace has always waved the rainbow flag: in addition to the capsule dedicated to the Pride movement launched last June, the brand was the star of World Pride 2019. Donatella's presence as godmother, icon and strong advocate of fairness and freedom and the power of community, also paid tribute to her brother and the role that, with his private life made public in an act of courage, the designer played for the entire international community when homosexuality was freely associated with AIDS and promiscuity in the 1980s-1990s.

Donatella's position is for love and happiness, as she told Gianni when he confessed his sexual orientation to her at the age of 11:

'I personally grew up surrounded by people from the LGBTQ+ community, and I want to emphasise the word PEOPLE. I am aware that not everyone has been as fortunate as I was, but I don't make such distinctions. I care about what people have to say, what people do. Whether they love a man or a woman or both has never interested me. At the same time, I saw the discrimination, the hatred, the names that were given to my friends. And I could never understand or accept it. That is why I started to take action to stop and spread awareness. That is why I called for tolerance and understanding, to embrace diversity as something good and positive'.

Being an ally is a commitment that needs to be made every day, not just during pride month, but it is crucial to remember the culture and traditions of the community in order to glorify the achievements and push beyond what has already been achieved.