Compass LGBTQ Community Center
To Throw a “Stay At Home Ball” to Celebrate Pride Month
Despite the restrictions on social gatherings due to COVID-19, Compass LGBTQ Community Center (Compass) has figured out a way to keep the community connected from the safety of their homes during Pride Month.
Each year in June, which is recognized internationally as Pride Month, Compass hosts the Stonewall Ball the last Saturday of the month. This year the ball, named after the Stonewall Riots which sparked the modern LGBTQ Civil Rights movement, can’t take place in person. Compass has a solution:
On June 27th, community members from all over the state will gather online to observe the “Stonewall Stay-the-Heck-Home” Ball. The event will consist of individual community members hosting online, virtual dinner parties throughout the night.
“We want the community to be able to celebrate Pride Month,” says Julia Murphy, Compass Chief Development Officer. “We have been in social distance since March and had to cancel Palm Beach Pride and the parade. Pride Month is a time for reflection and celebration so we have organized the Stay-the-Heck-Home ball to help people have a reason to celebrate with each other again!”
Anyone can host a virtual dinner party. Compass even has an instruction manual on the best ways to have fun that night through various virtual platforms including Zoom, Facetime, and Google Hangouts.
Dinner party participants are encouraged to dress up in the clothes they would have worn to the actual ball and to enjoy each other’s company. A number of local restaurants and catering companies are preparing special “Pride” menu options for people to order take out and enjoy in the safety of their home. The restaurants/caterers participating are: Big Mama’s House of Sweets; Christafaro’s Catering; Don Ramon’s Cuban Cuisine; Hullabaloo; Joy Noodles & Rice; Kapow Noodle Bar WPB; Ken Keffer Catering; New York Grilled Cheese Co (Boca); Pollo Tropical; and Starbucks.
“The recent Supreme Court decision that guarantees LGBTQ people equal rights and protection from discrimination in the workplace is another reason to celebrate this year,” explains Julie Seaver, Compass’ Executive Director. “That we aren’t celebrating in one place altogether is tough, but this news gives us renewed faith and a deeper appreciation of Pride Month.”
Compass’s goal is to raise $30,000 in the month of June to make up for lost revenue from cancelling all of its in-person events including Palm Beach Pride, Dining Out for Life, and Stonewall Ball. Money raised through this fundraiser goes directly back to the center and makes it possible for Compass to continue providing life-saving services to people living with HIV/AIDS, people struggling with mental health, LGBTQ youth, and other members of the community.
To donate or to find out more information, go to: compassglcc.com
