Queer LifeSpace’s 10-Year Anniversary Gala: Event Recap w/ Photos
It all started when…
It was the most perfect day: clear skies, sunshine, and a warm breeze. The rhythmic, passionate acoustic strum of Grace Jones’ rendition of “La Vie En Rose” soared out of the sound system as Drag Queen extraordinaire, Rahni NothingMore, strutted and flourished her way to the stage. She passed by tables full of the joyful attendees of Queer LifeSpace’s 10-Year Anniversary Gala, held at 620 Jones in San Francisco on May 7th, 2022…
The overall mood of the event, with the theme of Metamorphosis, was festive and colorful. And perhaps even defiant. With anti-trans sentiment on the rise and unrelenting news of attacks on members of the LGBTQIA+ community, being together and sharing in our love of the Bay Area’s queer community cultivated a sense of solidarity in a way that may not have been as present if the world weren’t in so much turmoil.
The Gala, in the format of a daytime fundraising brunch hosted by the legendary Juanita More and Sister Roma, featured stellar performances by three local Drag stars: Rahni NothingMore, Dulce De Leche, and Fauxnique.
Also featured was Queer LifeSpace’s fledging program for queer artists, EQUARTY (Emerging Queer Artists in Their Youth). The EQUARTY program provides support for up-and-coming LGBTQIA+ artists in the Bay Area (18-30 years old) who lack affordable access to mental health and substance abuse services.
EQUARTY aims to connect local queer artists to individual and group counseling so that they can continue to invest in their work without sacrificing their mental health needs in the process. Seven queer artists submitted their work to be displayed and auctioned at the Gala. Proceeds from the art auction fully benefited the artists who set reserve prices on their own submissions.
The funds Queer LifeSpace raised from the Gala will go directly back into the organization to ensure that current and future clients continue to have access to affordable mental healthcare. The most critical challenge we currently face as an organization is being able to expand our capacity to work with more therapists and clients. We are working hard to solve this issue with the help of your financial support.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us in our mission to provide low-cost, high-quality mental healthcare. Your donation could mean the world to someone!
