Celebrities raise money for a good cause.
On Friday, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 13 winner Symone, comedian and Las Culturistas podcast host Matt Rogers and screenwriter John August (Charlie’s Angels, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), among others, attended wayOUT LA’s annual Spectacular Gayla in support of LGTBQ+ youth and Capital Tea, a Tallahassee-based transgender advocacy organization.
This year’s gala event, held at AVALON Hollywood & Bardot in Los Angeles, raised $125,000 for the advocacy organization amid an increase in legislation aimed at targeting the transgender and queer community by the Florida state legislature in recent years.
Brendan Scannell (Sticking) and Rob Warner hosted Friday night’s show, where Symone, 28, and August, 53, accepted awards meant to celebrate “artists and creatives who use their platforms to make positive change in the world,” according to a press release.
Rogers, who co-hosts the popular Las Culturistas podcast with Saturday night liveBowen Yang, performed at the gala event, as did singer-songwriter Leland and drag performer Kyra Jete.
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Symone November 10, 2023
Kit Karzen
Friday night’s event concluded with wayOUT LA Chapter Presidents Richard Gadsden and Brady Valashinas presenting Capital Tea CEO Janel Diaz with a $125,000 check. According to a press release, the funds raised will help Capital Tea “expand their safe house network and provide life-saving resources to at-risk trans youth across Florida.”
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Specifically, the funds will be used to “primarily support the operational costs of Tea House, a safe housing facility for displaced trans youth… With the additional funding, Capital Tea aims to expand its safe house network, improve operational capabilities and hire new counselors , providing crucial support to those who need it.”
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Ivan August on November 10, 2023.
Kit Karzen
wayOUT LA is part of the wayOUT LGBTQ Foundation, a non-profit organization that “empowers[s] to local organizations and entrepreneurs advancing programs to support LGBTQ+ youth in places where society tells them it’s not okay to be who they really are,” her website says.
wayOUT LA plans to continue raising money to support Capital Tea through the end of 2023. Those interested in donating money can find out more information and contribute online here.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education