Brave Space Alliance (BSA) celebrated its five-year anniversary at its virtual Unicorn Gala with performances and a silent auction that will continue into this week.
Despite more than an hour of technical difficulties, the event raised $31,000 for the organization's new "Fund for the Future" that will be used to support new initiatives, hire more staff and improve the organization's infrastructure.
Attendees bid on items from the movie The Matrix Reloaded (2003) that were donated by BSA board member Lilly Wachowski from her private collection, signed memorabilia from the Chicago Blackhawks and other signed movie posters.
DJ Chico Chi, who's currently based in Minnesota, provided music. Chicago artist Kenzie Coulee played the violin and performed in drag. Denara Auriel, a Chicago-based neo-soul and R&B artist, sang at the event.
Founder/Executive Director LaSaia Wade introduced BSA five years ago at the end of the Trans Liberation March.
"From that minute forward, we were born with $500 and a dream," said Associate Executive Director Stephanie Skora.
"BSA was something I had to do in order to save myself and save our community," Wade said. "I didn't have the resources just like everyone else didn't have the resources."
Since then, BSA has "kept putting one foot in front of the other," Skora said.
"We were constantly struggling to find stability and to get ourselves paid let alone do anything for the community," Skora said. "We're never going to stop serving the community we were founded to serve."
To participate in the silent auction, visit e.givesmart.com/s/:nA-YUefIsby/e/pJE/i/ .