The Elton John AIDS Foundation has announced that Philip Anschutz has donated $1million (£707,000) to support its LGBT fund.
Anschutz is Coachella‘s co-owner and the chairman of live music company, AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group), the festival’s parent company.
He was found to have actively funded the Alliance Defending Freedom, the Family Research Council, and the National Christian Foundation – three groups known to lobby and campaign against LGBTQ rights – via the Anschutz Family Foundation.
“My gift to the Elton John Foundation is intended to emphasise that we support freedom of all people to live their lives peacefully, without interference from others,” Anschutz said in a statement, regarding his recent donation.
“Sexuality is among the most personal of issues, and it has never been my intent to weigh in on people’s private lives. I support the rights of all people and oppose discrimination and intolerance against the LGBTQ community. I see this as a matter of basic human rights.
“Our Foundation supports a broad range of philanthropic causes. I regret if any money given to a charity for other purposes may have indirectly worked against these values. That was not my intention, it does not reflect my beliefs, and I am committed to making sure our internal processes are strengthened so that it does not happen again.”
Coachella unveiled its huge 2018 line-up earlier this year, with The Weeknd, Beyoncé and Eminem confirmed as headliners.
The festival will take place across two weekends in April, with the first weekend of the festival taking place on April 13-15. The second Coachella weekend will be held a week later, from April 20-22.
Despite the legalisation of marijuana in the festival’s home state of California, it’s been announced that the drug still won’t be allowed onsite.