Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds Donates $1M Home to LGBTQ Youth Group
Straight ally and frontman for the band Imagine Dragons Dan Reynolds has donated his childhood home in Las Vegas to an organization that supports LGBTQ youth, NME reports. The home is valuated at $1 million.
"The gift comes as part of the '$8 Million, 8 Houses' campaign from non-profit organization Encircle, who are building resource centers for LGBT+ youth across Arizona, Idaho, Nevada and Utah," NME notes.
Reynolds, who was born in Las Vegas, is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but has spoken out against the church's anti-LGTBQ stances and been a proponent of equality for sexual minorities. He has also championed bans on so-called "conversion therapy" being inflicted on minors.
Reynolds and his wife, Aja Volkman, issued a statement in which they said, "Encircle is about bringing young LGBTQ+ people and their families together, by including the community and strengthening the bonds that connect us.
"The house where Dan grew up becomes a loving and supportive house for all young LGBTQ + people who cross the threshold," Reynolds and Voklman added.
While the resource center that will operate in the house is the first that Encircle will have in Las Vegas, the group has three such centers in Utah, "with a fourth being built," NME said.
Reynolds appeared on Good Morning America on Feb. 26, along with out Apple CEO Tom Cook and the owner of the Utah Jazz, Ryan Smith, who are also contributors to the program, ET Canada reported.
"That's why I came out," Cook said during the Good Morning America appearance. "I was getting notes from the kids. Children thinking about suicide, kids being bullied by it. I wanted to share a part of my life.
"But it's all about getting involved with Dan and Ryan and taking it to a new level," Cook said about his contribution to Encircle.