Hands charity single: Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, more collaborate on LGBT benefit song

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Published on July 6, 2016 02:39PM EDT

Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images; Bryan Bedder/Getty Images; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images; Isaac Brekken/Getty Images

Two dozen artists have joined forces to honor the lives of the 49 people killed last month at the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando. The stars lend their voices to a new LGBT benefit single, “Hands,” available now exclusively on iTunes from Interscope Records.

In addition to several vocal contributions from prominent LGBT figures such as RuPaul, Adam Lambert, Alex Newell, Mary Lambert, Jussie Smollett, MNEK, Ty Herndon, and The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, the GLAAD-supported all-star release also features Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Mary J. Blige, Kacey Musgraves, Jason Derulo, Meghan Trainor, Selena Gomez, Halsey, Nate Reuss, Prince Royce, and Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, all of whom recorded their parts from studios around the world.

Funds raised by the song will aid the 53 injured Pulse victims and their families with medical care, counseling, and education following the deadliest act of violence against LGBT people in American history.

The track was conceived by Semi Precious Weapons frontman and prominent pop songwriter Justin Tranter (Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” Nick Jonas’ “Close”), a glam-rocking member of the LGBT community himself who previously spent well over a year opening for Lady Gaga on her Monster Ball tour between 2009 and 2011. He co-wrote the track with frequent Collaborator Julia Michaels and producer Bloodpop (formerly Blood Diamonds), while Mark Ronson co-produced.

According to Billboard, Tranter was co-writing songs aboard Gomez’s tour bus in Miami the weekend of June 11, when the Pulse shooting occurred. He quickly signed on as a volunteer at The Center Orlando, the region’s top LGBT community center.

“I called them and said, ‘If I fly up is there something for me to help with?'” Tranter told the publication. “They say, ‘We need as many hands as we can possibly get,” and thus the song’s title was born shortly thereafter, when the 36-year old met with GLAAD CEO Kate Ellis, who traveled to the center from New York City and was, like Tranter, looking to contribute relief efforts that would have a lasting impact.

“When you hear the song it talks about hate being the driver here,” Ellis said, further stressing the importance of remembering most Pulse victims were people of color. “…we have to be able to identify what’s driving these cruel acts in order to stop them. Artists using their platforms to accelerate acceptance is very powerful.”

Listen to “Hands” in the video above, and check out the full set of lyrics (per Billboard), below.