Coca‑Cola Great Britain supporting the LGBTQ+ community

We're strong advocates for the LGBTQ+ community here at Coca‑Cola Great Britain - and we pride ourselves on living the values of inclusion and allyship all year round.

Coca‑Cola Great Britain has a long history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community through its brands and partnerships. We also believe that music has the power to bring people together and really make a positive impact.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with GAY TIMES to create ‘Breakthrough’ with Coke Studio – an ongoing campaign that gives unsigned LGBTQ+ musicians from all walks of life the opportunity to gain the recognition and wider support they deserve across the UK and Ireland.

GAY TIMES is the leader in creating LGBTQ+ cultural conversations. Reaching 300 million people globally, it is at the epicentre of the queer community and the #1 LGBTQ+ publisher on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. Across five decades, a global community and an ever-changing culture, GAY TIMES has led the conversation, creating extraordinary cultural moments that drive global engagement and influence positive change.

We know the music industry can be a challenging space, particularly for those who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Coca‑Cola and GAY TIMES are committed to supporting diversity, inclusivity, and self-expression, and we believe that helping talented independent musicians is a vital part of that.

‘Breakthrough’ seamlessly connects our calendar of exciting events together with Coke Studio, our platform for emerging talent to partner, create and deliver moments of musical magic to new audiences. One of our four ‘Breakthrough’ artists will be making their Coke Studio debut at Pride in London, as part of Coca‑Cola's Parade Float, and in the coming months all four will be enjoying valuable paid festival experience at the likes of Luno presents All Points East, Boardmasters and Longitude, as well as performances at various Pride events across the UK and Ireland.

You don’t have to wait months to discover who our four ‘Breakthrough’ Coke Studio artists are, however, and we’re delighted to introduce them here:

Keanan is an up-and-coming LGBTQ+ singer, songwriter and rapper who has already been recognised as ‘BBC Radio 1Xtra STEP UP Artist’ and ‘GAY TIMES Artist To Watch 2023’.

Lleo is on a mission to bring what is quickly becoming known as ‘bipolar pop’ to the masses. Their work aims to open the conversation around mental health by sharing their experiences of someone living with bipolar and has already drawn praise from BBC Radio 1 and Apple Radio, with more to come.

Callum Crighton is the full package, and this London-based DJ and queer music artist has already modelled and entertained crowds around the globe. Expect to see far more of Callum over the coming months. 

Celaviedmai (aka Mai or Cela) is a Galway, Ireland born artist who has become one of the most exciting names in the Irish hip-hop and rap scene. Celebrated for defying genres, she combines English, French and Irish in her lyrics, while paying homage to her Ivorian roots.

By helping artists from all backgrounds and identities to gain visibility and recognition, and get paid for the experience, we hope to help open doors for musicians and create a more inclusive and welcoming society for all.

Fearlessly expressing their individual and authentic voices, our four ‘Breakthrough’ Coke Studio artists are not only embracing their own artistic journeys but inspiring the next generation of artists and fans far and wide.

Coca‑Cola has a long-standing relationship with Pride events globally. In 2018, we supported Pride for the first time in GB, and every year we’ve been more involved as a partner. This year, Coca‑Cola Great Britain is delighted to continue supporting the LGBTQ+ community as an official sponsor of not only Pride in London 2023 but also Brighton Pride 2023, two of the biggest Pride events in GB.

This means we will have a central presence at both events, with a branded truck that will act as both a float and stage for some of our LGBTQ+ ‘Breakthrough’ Coke Studio performers and over 100 Coca‑Cola employees. We are looking forward to coming together with other organisations and community groups to share amazing experiences.

Pride in London will take place on Saturday 1st of July 2023, and after the parade we will be in Trafalgar Square, ready to refresh the attending partygoers with an ice-cold Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar. Brighton Pride kicks off on Saturday 5th of August and runs until the 6th of August, where we will be staging our full Coke Studio Music experience, as part of the FABULOSO fundraiser in Preston Park. As part of the fun, festivalgoers will be able to immerse themselves in the world of Coke Studio along with the chance to win prizes.

In addition to being the official partner for Pride in London and Brighton Pride this summer, we’re delighted to continue working with several local organisations that support the LGBTQ+ community across Great Britain and Europe. This includes an ongoing partnership with the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, our work with The Trevor Project, and longstanding support for Stonewall.

Further afield, we are also spreading a message of inclusion, diversity, and optimism globally by supporting EuroPride 2023 in Malta, which follows on from our successful partnership with EuroPride 2022 in Belgrade, Copenhagen 2021 and WorldPride.

Coca‑Cola Great Britain is consistently driving awareness and engagement for internal LGBTQ+ events in our office spaces. We recognise, value, and support employees from the community not only during the annual Pride celebrations, but all year round.

Last year, we launched an internal European LGBTQ+ Inclusion Network for employees, and their allies. Through networks such as this we aim to increase feelings of belonging, safety and inclusion within the company, while providing an open environment where everyone is welcome – and can learn, ask and grow together.  

This year, we’re proud to be working with myGwork, the business community for LGBTQ+ professionals, graduates, and inclusive employers. It is the perfect safe space for members to connect with us, find jobs, mentors, professional events and more.

Passion drives Coca‑Cola to inspire moments of optimism and happiness, and this helps us to create value and make a difference in people’s lives, communities, and our planet.