GLAAD/Interscope RecordsMusic's biggest stars—including Mary J. Blige, Jason Derulo, Selena Gomez, Halsey, Imagine Dragons, Juanes, Adam Lambert, Jennifer Lopez, Kacey Musgraves, Nate Ruess, Pink, RuPaul, Troye Sivan, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani and Meghan Trainor—have joined hands and voices on the new song "Hands." Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels and BloodPop wrote the song with Pulse's Ely Rise; Tranter and BloodPop also produced it with Mark Ronson. The ballad debuted on iTunes overnight, and its proceeds will benefit victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando; Equality Florida Pulse Victims Fund, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida and GLAAD will distribute the single's profits. Other vocal contributors include Tyler Glenn, Ty Herndon, Mary Lambert, the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, MNEK, Alex Newell, Prince Royce and Jussie Smollett.
"The second I heard about this horrible tragedy where so many of my LGBTQ brothers and sisters lost their lives, I immediately got on a plane to Orlando to volunteer my help anyway I could," Tranter said in a statement. "Putting this charity single together is just a way for me, and everyone involved to keep volunteering our help and promote peace and love in the world."
Teaming up with Interscope for the song's release, Tranter, GLAAD and Interscope president of A&R Aaron Bay-Schuck wrangled today's top artists to participate in recording the charity single.
"Orlando's broken hearts have been lifted by the outpouring of love and support from people near and far," Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, told E! News in a statement. "There has been beauty in the midst of our grief and we are grateful to these talented artists, producers, and GLAAD for helping us mourn and laugh and cry and sing together."
GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis also released a statement, saying, "The horrific attack on the LGBT community in Orlando has left us devastated, but not defeated. As we continue to mourn the crushing loss of 49 Americans, the majority of whom were Latino and whose lives were lost to hate, we stand resolved in paying tribute to their memory, supporting the victims and families, and working together to achieve full acceptance once and for all." John Janick, chairman and CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M, added, "This senseless tragedy is a call to all of us to stand together and face down hatred, intolerance and violence…and having grown up a short drive from Orlando, it really brings it right to my doorstep. We all know music has the power to heal, and I'm honored and grateful to be a part of whatever our business can do to help."
The June 12 slaughter at Pulse, which killed 49 people and injured 53, is the deadliest mass shooting in United States history and the deadliest act of violence against the LGBT community.
Since the massacre, which occurred during "Latin Night," many other stars have paid their respects to the 49 people who lost their lives: Stanley Almodovar III, 23, Amanda Alvear, 25, Oscar Aracena-Montero, 26, Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33, Antonio Davon Brown, 29, Darryl Roman Burt II, 29, Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28, Juan Chavez Martinez, 25, Luis Daniel Conde, 39, Cory James Connell, 21, Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25, Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32, Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31, Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25, Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26, Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22, Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22, Paul Terrell Henry, 41, Frank Hernandez, 27, Miguel Angel Honorato, 30, Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40, Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19, Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30, Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25, Christopher "Drew" Andrew Leinonen, 32, Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21, Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49, Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25, KJ Morris, 37, Akyra Monet Murray, 18, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20, Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25, Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36, Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32, Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35, Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25, Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27, Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35, Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24, Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24, Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34, Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33, Martin Benitez Torres, 33, Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24, Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37, Luis S. Vielma, 22, Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50, Luis Daniel Lestat Wilson-Leon, 37, and Jerald "Jerry" Arthur Wright, 31.
"Hands" is available now for digital download via iTunes.