Joan Rivers’ iconic rainbow coat donated to LGBT charity auction by daughter

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

Melissa Rivers says her mother would be ‘thrilled’ to know her coat was being sold to help LGBT families.

The coat originally wore by Joan Rivers at the Las Vegas Pride Parade four years ago will be auctioned off to raise money for the LGBTI rights group Family Equality Council.

Her daughter – TV presenter Melissa Rivers – said her mother would be delighted to know that the coat would be raising money for the LGBT community.

Joan Rivers’ iconic rainbow coat donated to LGBT charity auction by daughter

“My mother loved, respected and celebrated families of all kinds,” Melissa told People.com.

“She would be thrilled to know that her coat, which celebrates diversity, is being sold to benefit loving families.”

The coat is a golden gown, which opens up to reveal a spectacular and sparkly rainbow lining.

It will be auctioned on May 9 at the organisation’s Night at the Pier gala in New York City.

“Joan Rivers was a celebrity pioneer in her unbridled support of the LGBT community,” says Ian Patrick, deputy director of events for Family Equality Council.

“We are honoured to offer this precious piece of her legacy to support our work to secure a rightful place for LGBTQ-headed families in America.”

The outspoken comedian died in 2014, aged 81, seven days after she stopped breathing during a routine operation on her vocal chords.

Despite her controversial nature, many in the LGBT community saw her as a staunch ally.

Joan Rivers’ iconic rainbow coat donated to LGBT charity auction by daughter

Rivers began her charitable work for the community in the eighties, delivering food parcels at Christmas to men dying from AIDS in New York City.

She also spoke up in supporting of legalising same-sex marriage and  left “a substantial chunk” of her estate to an AIDS charity.

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