Hilton Sydney puts on the Rainbow Formal with Minus18

A star-studded crowd came together at Hilton Sydney last night for the first Rainbow Formal gala event to launch Hilton’s nationwide partnership with LGBTQIA+ charity organisation, Minus18.

At the helm of the event was queer icon and advocate, actor, model and DJ, Ruby Rose.

Ruby Rose was joined at the gala event by hundreds of supporters including Emily Weir, Jack Vidgen, Richard Wilkins, Richard Reid, Matty Mills, Carla From Bankstown, Mitch and Mark, Esme James, Esma Voloder and more to raise funds and awareness for Minus18’s future events, educational programs and broader mission to create inclusive environments for young LGBTQIA+ Australians.

Guests enjoyed a headline performance by singer Delta Goodrem, entertainment from TV presenter Hamish Macdonald and a DJ set from Ruby Rose herself.

“It means the world to me to be back in Australia to help launch Hilton and Minus18’s partnership,” Rose said.

“Minus18 gave me purpose and a sense of community when I came out as a young teenager. You have to remember, back then dial up internet still took 12 minutes to load, unlike today where there are a plethora of online communities. The only community that I had was Minus18, that I was lucky enough to stumble across in a free magazine.”

Hamish Macdonald & Jack Fitzroy (Supplied)

Paul Hutton, area vice president and head of Australasia at Hilton, added: “The Rainbow Formal was an opportunity for us to stand boldly together and strengthen our bonds as a community, proudly promoting a sense of belonging and acceptance for all and I am thrilled to say we achieved just that tonight. A big thank you to everyone who came along to help us launch this wonderful partnership and raise funds for a great cause.

“The funds raised this evening will be used to scale Minus18’s Queer Formals program via our hotel network. It is our shared ambition that one day every young person in Australia will have the access to celebrate their formal as their true self and with pride. We are committed to creating a welcoming environment for everyone at Hilton.”

Hilton, Ruby Rose and Minus18 are calling on the Australian public to support LGBTQIA+ teens’ right to inclusive spaces, including Queer Formals, by donating to Minus18.

Featured Image: Ruby Rose with Adrian Murdoch, Gretchen Moore and Paul Hutton

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Hamish Macdonald hilton Minus18 Ruby Rose