GayCities' LGBTQ Nightlife Relief Fund
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While LGBTQ social venues have served as a safe haven for queer people for decades, their existence is now being threatened by COVID-19 and they need our help to survive. DONATE AND SHARE TODAY to help keep local LGBTQ nightlife venues open for our communities across the country!
Throughout history, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer (LGBTQ) spaces have served as crucial sanctuaries for LGBTQ people to safely be themselves. Once thriving bastions of social advancement for the community at large, today, many of them are on the brink of closure.
Due to the pandemic, nightlife across the country has been shuttered, leaving many venues on indefinite hiatus or permanently closed. Donate to this GayCities’ LGBTQ Nightlife Relief Fund today to help prevent the closure of these paramount LGBTQ nightlife venues.
These sacred spaces are vital for the LGBTQ community for a plethora of reasons. Your local queer bar might be where a young person comes out for the first time. A drag show at the closest city’s nightclub is where newfound acceptance and confidence are born. Individuals cast away from their families of origin who are seeking love and connection have found solace and sanctuary in these venues.
LGBTQ bars and nightclubs have acted as ad hoc meeting spaces for community organizing groups, educated people about queer art and culture, delivered necessary healthcare resources during other catastrophic epidemics, acted as the founding homes of Pride celebrations, and been the genesis of the political and social movements toward the ongoing fight for equality.
Queer nightlife is more than just gathering around a watering hole. These venues are part of a larger, shared history. Because of the value these venues have on our individual lives and collective experience, we believe it is our responsibility to not only give back but to stand up and fight to preserve this essential part of our history for generations to come.
By sharing this fundraiser and donating, you can help us reach our goal of supporting as many queer nightlife venues across the country as possible. Until that Fund is depleted, GoFundMe.org will issue $500 grants to qualifying businesses.
We will be posting frequent updates, and highlighting stories of grant recipients so that you can see the direct impact of your donation.
Important information for LGBTQ nightlife venue owners:
The GayCities’ COVID Relief Fund will provide grants to qualifying LGBTQ nightlife venues to help alleviate the financial burdens during these pressing times. Donations to the relief fund will be paid out as grants to businesses that qualify, and which businesses have created a fundraiser on GoFundMe. Only one grant is allowed per business or business owner, unless determined otherwise by GoFundMe.org in its sole and absolute discretion. Specifically, depending on the success of the GayCities’ LGBTQ Nightlife Relief Fund, GoFundMe.org will consider subsequent grants out to grantees from the Fund. Please note that further vetting may be required in connection with a subsequent grant.
To qualify for a grant from the GayCities’ COVID Relief Fund, the GoFundMe fundraiser must contain #savequeervenues, raise at least $500 and verify that your LGBTQ club or bar has been negatively impacted by a government mandate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each recipient of the matching grant must intend on using the funds to help care for your employees or pay ongoing business expenses.
If you meet the above criteria, please complete the following steps to be approved for a matching grant:
1) Add #savequeervenues (and, if you have it, your GayCities URL) to your new or pre-existing GoFundMe fundraiser.
2) Be sure the business owner is set up to receive the funds from the fundraiser, if you’re not raising money for your own venue. Select the “Withdraw” option in the GoFundMe dashboard to make sure this is set up.
3) Fill out this form.
Important information for businesses wanting to donate:
If you are a corporation looking to donate to this fund and providing a matching incentive, please email [email redacted] for more details.
GoFundMe.org, a 501(c)(3) charity, will issue grants from this GayCities’ LGBTQ Nightlife Relief Fund to coronavirus-related fundraisers that concentrate on helping LGBTQ nightlife. Each GoFundMe fundraiser is verified in order to assure that your donation to this Fund is going towards the specific cause. Any funds which can not be granted out to fundraisers will be granted to other charitable organizations serving the same or similar purposes stated here.
Your donation to the GayCities’ LGBTQ Nightlife Relief Fund, a project of GoFundMe.org, is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
GayCities and Grindr Support this critical cause
GayCities is partnering with Grindr to amplify this critical fundraising effort. Both platforms know the value and importance of keeping LGBTQ nightlife venues open and available to our community. Because of this, GayCities has donated $250,000 in free advertising space on its website to promote and generate funds for this cause. Grindr has similarly donated $50,000 for the fundraiser and has come on board as a fundraising teammate to the GoFundMe.
Throughout history, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer (LGBTQ) spaces have served as crucial sanctuaries for LGBTQ people to safely be themselves. Once thriving bastions of social advancement for the community at large, today, many of them are on the brink of closure.
Due to the pandemic, nightlife across the country has been shuttered, leaving many venues on indefinite hiatus or permanently closed. Donate to this GayCities’ LGBTQ Nightlife Relief Fund today to help prevent the closure of these paramount LGBTQ nightlife venues.
These sacred spaces are vital for the LGBTQ community for a plethora of reasons. Your local queer bar might be where a young person comes out for the first time. A drag show at the closest city’s nightclub is where newfound acceptance and confidence are born. Individuals cast away from their families of origin who are seeking love and connection have found solace and sanctuary in these venues.
LGBTQ bars and nightclubs have acted as ad hoc meeting spaces for community organizing groups, educated people about queer art and culture, delivered necessary healthcare resources during other catastrophic epidemics, acted as the founding homes of Pride celebrations, and been the genesis of the political and social movements toward the ongoing fight for equality.
Queer nightlife is more than just gathering around a watering hole. These venues are part of a larger, shared history. Because of the value these venues have on our individual lives and collective experience, we believe it is our responsibility to not only give back but to stand up and fight to preserve this essential part of our history for generations to come.
By sharing this fundraiser and donating, you can help us reach our goal of supporting as many queer nightlife venues across the country as possible. Until that Fund is depleted, GoFundMe.org will issue $500 grants to qualifying businesses.
We will be posting frequent updates, and highlighting stories of grant recipients so that you can see the direct impact of your donation.
Important information for LGBTQ nightlife venue owners:
The GayCities’ COVID Relief Fund will provide grants to qualifying LGBTQ nightlife venues to help alleviate the financial burdens during these pressing times. Donations to the relief fund will be paid out as grants to businesses that qualify, and which businesses have created a fundraiser on GoFundMe. Only one grant is allowed per business or business owner, unless determined otherwise by GoFundMe.org in its sole and absolute discretion. Specifically, depending on the success of the GayCities’ LGBTQ Nightlife Relief Fund, GoFundMe.org will consider subsequent grants out to grantees from the Fund. Please note that further vetting may be required in connection with a subsequent grant.
To qualify for a grant from the GayCities’ COVID Relief Fund, the GoFundMe fundraiser must contain #savequeervenues, raise at least $500 and verify that your LGBTQ club or bar has been negatively impacted by a government mandate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each recipient of the matching grant must intend on using the funds to help care for your employees or pay ongoing business expenses.
If you meet the above criteria, please complete the following steps to be approved for a matching grant:
1) Add #savequeervenues (and, if you have it, your GayCities URL) to your new or pre-existing GoFundMe fundraiser.
2) Be sure the business owner is set up to receive the funds from the fundraiser, if you’re not raising money for your own venue. Select the “Withdraw” option in the GoFundMe dashboard to make sure this is set up.
3) Fill out this form.
Important information for businesses wanting to donate:
If you are a corporation looking to donate to this fund and providing a matching incentive, please email [email redacted] for more details.
GoFundMe.org, a 501(c)(3) charity, will issue grants from this GayCities’ LGBTQ Nightlife Relief Fund to coronavirus-related fundraisers that concentrate on helping LGBTQ nightlife. Each GoFundMe fundraiser is verified in order to assure that your donation to this Fund is going towards the specific cause. Any funds which can not be granted out to fundraisers will be granted to other charitable organizations serving the same or similar purposes stated here.
Your donation to the GayCities’ LGBTQ Nightlife Relief Fund, a project of GoFundMe.org, is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
GayCities and Grindr Support this critical cause
GayCities is partnering with Grindr to amplify this critical fundraising effort. Both platforms know the value and importance of keeping LGBTQ nightlife venues open and available to our community. Because of this, GayCities has donated $250,000 in free advertising space on its website to promote and generate funds for this cause. Grindr has similarly donated $50,000 for the fundraiser and has come on board as a fundraising teammate to the GoFundMe.
Fundraising team (4)
GayCities .
Organizer
San Francisco, CA
GoFundMe.org
Beneficiary
Grindr LLC
Team member
LGBTQ Nation
Team member
Queerty .com
Team member