The month of June is all about LGBTQI+ pride marches in the United States and in several countries around the world, including France. On this occasion, a collection of NFTs paying tribute to certain gay icons was launched. The goal: to raise money for associations that fight for the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and intersex people.
The “Pride Icons” project describes itself as: “the largest collection of LGBTQI+ NFTs in the world”† And rightly so, it celebrates 100 artists and personalities that the gay community considers cultural references. Among them Andy Warhol, Barbra Streisand, Cher, Elton John or even Marsha P. Johnson, an African American transgender woman and a real figurehead of the Stonewall riots in 1969.
They have been immortalized in the form of NFTs, these certificates of digital ownership registered in the blockchain loved by the art world and Hollywood, by the artists Max Bahman, Gal Ben David and Matan Berson. They chose not to faithfully represent them, but to embody their essence. “Each icon is made up of every star, from Elton John to Cher and Harvey Milk. Each NFT is related to the icon and what it represents”said Eliad Cohen, one of the three co-founders of the project, to Forbes†
“Fantastic and Legendary” icons
The “Pride Icons” collection is divided into three groups, namely “Plus”, “Prime” and “Prestige”. Each has its own rarity level and grants access to various privileges such as private events and even discounts for cosmetic surgery. “While some are rarer than others, all ‘Pride Icons’ are fantastic, legendary and unique in their own way”we can read on the project website.
Collectors have until July to try and get your hands on an NFT from the “Pride Icons” collection. One of them with the image of Andy Warhol has already sold for 1.4 ethereum (ie 2,300 euros at the time of writing this article). The entrepreneurs behind the project hope others will follow. “’Pride Icons’ is more than just an ‘NFT project’. It’s a tribute to those legendary icons of the LGBTQI+ community who got us where we are today. Those who have shaped and inspired generations”they say. “It’s a targeted community that empowers its members to empower nonprofits and get great benefits in return.”
In this spirit, a million dollars is donated to charities fighting for the rights of people belonging to the LGBTQI+ community such as GLAAD and the Trevor Project. As Amir Lazarovich, one of the co-founders of Pride Icons, explained: Forbes† “The power will appear when we have built a large enough community. If there are more of us, we can do a lot of good in this world.”†
(ETX Daily Up)