ABOVE: The Contigo Fund Director Marco Antonio Quiroga asks people to donate to the Central Florida LGBTQ+ Relief Fund in a video at Lake Eola Park. (Screenshot from Facebook video)
ORLANDO | The Contigo Fund, in conjunction with the One Orlando Alliance, launched a fundraising initiative April 1 to assist Orlando area LGBTQ+ community members who are most in need as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
The Central Florida LGBTQ+ Relief Fund is a grassroots effort led by LGBTQ+ community members, nonprofit leaders and allies to raise funds in order to support LGBTQ+ individuals who are close to or have lost work — in particular transgender, non-binary, gender fluid and gender non-conforming individuals, undocumented immigrants and people of color who are self-employed or working in the service economy.
“It’s meant to assist Orlando area LGBTQ community members who are most in need as a result of this pandemic,” said OneOrlando Alliance Executive Director Jennifer Foster in a video posted to Facebook. “We recognize that many of our community members depend heavily on the hospitality and tourism industry for income with unprecedented and widespread closures of theme parks, restaurants, nightclubs and bars due to COVID-19 we have sadly seen an increase in unemployment claims across Florida by nearly 700% … Some were already living paycheck to paycheck and housing unstable before this crisis and this has only amplified their situation.”
A GoFundMe page was established to help collect the funds with a goal of raising at least $100,000. Within the first two weeks of the initiative, the Central Florida LGBTQ+ Relief Fund has raised just over $14,000.
“We all have a role that we can play in supporting each other and these uncertain times,” Foster said.
Come Out With Pride (COWP) joined in to assist by hosting a virtual gathering called Stay In With Pride to support the Orlando LGBTQ community on April 3. The two-and-a-half hour streaming event was hosted by Blue Star and Darcel Stevens and featured many Central Florida entertainers performing from their homes.
[UPDATE: COWP’s second “Stay In With Pride” event was moved from April 26 to April 25. The event will still begin at 8 p.m.]
Stay In With Pride was watched in part by more than 15,000 people and helped raise $9,341 for the Central Florida LGBTQ+ Relief Fund. The success of the event has led COWP to announce a follow-up Stay In With Pride event to stream live on April 26, starting at 8 p.m. EST.
“As we practice social distancing, our community is looking for opportunities to stay connected. Stay In With Pride is a great way to hang out together even if we’re not all present in the same room,” said Jeff Prystajko, board president of Come Out With Pride, in a press release. “We’re especially grateful for people’s generosity during this crisis. This fund is going to immediately benefit some of those who need support the most.”
Just as with the first virtual show, Stay In With Pride’s second show is family-friendly and interactive with viewers able to send messages to hosts and talent via social media. Blue and Darcel will return to emcee, along with a varied group of local performers already confirmed, including Tymisha Harris, Miss Sammy, Milan DiMarco, Victoria Elizabeth Black, Opulence Black, Cara Cavalli, Melony VonKruz and Billy Mack.
100% of the Relief Fund’s donations go directly to eligible LGBTQ+ community members and groups in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties. The Contigo Fund will maintain financial oversight of the fund with the OneOrlando Alliance assessing the community’s needs, review applications and collectively fundraise to provide direct assistance to individuals in need. The LGBT+ Center will hold and distribute the funds to the individuals that qualify.
“Central Florida is a strong and resilient community,” Foster said. “We know how to come together as a community … It’s time for us to come together once again,”
To donate, visit GoFundMe.com/Central-Florida-LGBTQ-Relief-Fund. All donations are tax deductible. For those seeking support, visit the fund’s GoFundMe page and the application is available at the bottom of the page. Applications are available in the following languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole with Vietnamese coming soon.
