To celebrate Pride Month 2020, Brian Kelly – founder of The Points Guy – will be personally matching up to $50,000 to the Ali Forney Center in supporting our homeless LGBTQ youth community. The following message is an excerpt from Brian’s full post on the TPG news blog, which shares more about the work of the Ali Forney Center, and explains why the LGBTQ community needs our support now more than ever.
“I am a proudly gay entrepreneur who has been fortunate enough to start and grow a successful business. And I’ve had the support of my family and the business community along the way. But, this is not the experience for all LGBTQ people. The community has seen a lot of progress — including marriage equality — but there is still much work to be done, especially for LGBTQ homeless youth.
I’ve heard a lot of people say that Pride Month this year is canceled — whether because of COVID-19 or the Black Lives Matter protests. I don’t view it that way, however.
The LGBTQ movement came to life through the Stonewall Riots of 1969, which were organized by Black trans activists — a perfect example of the way the struggles of the LGBTQ community and people of color intersect.
So while it’s true that you likely won’t see a big, colorful parade with corporate sponsors in your city this year, I still urge everyone, especially those of us who are part of the LGBTQ community, to think differently this Pride Month.
To honor and celebrate this year’s Pride Month, TPG is teaming up with the Ali Forney Center to raise funds (I will personally match donations up to $50,000) and awareness for our homeless LGBTQ youth community. The center provides emergency and transitional housing, on-site medical support, mental health and substance abuse services, and education and employment to homeless LGBTQ youth — 90% of whom identify as people of color.”
Click here to read the rest of Brian’s empowering message, and click here donate to TPG’s fundraiser supporting the Ali Forney Center.
