Queer Health Fundraiser

This week, one of the brewing industry’s biggest events of the year is taking place, the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC), run by the Brewers Association (BA) in Nashville, Tennessee. In a twist of complicated and unfortunate timing, the state has recently pushed forward several laws attacking trans health, drag queens, and, most of all, the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole. These laws are currently being reviewed by the courts thanks to a few non-profits in Tennessee.

For the past few years, the BA has been putting forth initiatives to address the inequalities that plague the brewing industry, from working towards increasing the black and brown voices, uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community, and celebrating women in brewing. While the BA, like many of us, were blindsided by these laws moving through the Tennessee House and Senate, and subsequently, attempting to go into law, the BA has put forth new seminars adding value to the marginalized voices. They have also pushed for events outside of the day-to-day conference that are being held in queer spaces and businesses owned by LGBTQIA+, black, and brown folx.

We, here in Minnesota, can feel far enough away from what’s happening in Tennessee, but that doesn’t prevent us from creating the change we would like to see. This is why, this week, we’re teaming up with Arbeiter, Dual Citizen, Fair State, and La Doña to help not only raise awareness and money for some deserving non-profits in Tennessee fighting for the rights of trans and queer individuals, but we’re also teaming up with QUEERSPACE collective to continue support for the LGBTQIA+ community right here in Minnesota. Beginning Tuesday this week, and collectively on Friday, we and the other breweries mentioned above will be hosting fundraisers in our taprooms to show solidarity with the marginalized communities being attacked in Tennessee.

Join us on Thursday and Friday (10% of net sales will be donated) as we raise money for QUEERSPACE collective and Friends of George, a nonprofit theatre in Tennessee advocating for the rights of drag performers & the LGBTQIA+ community, or one of the other breweries this week and help show the queer community, both here and in Tennessee that they’re valuable, that they deserve basic health care, they are loved, and that they bring beauty to the world and their communities.

We encourage other breweries, if capable, to join us on Friday for a collective day of fundraising to show love and support for the LGBTQIA+ community in Tennessee and in your backyard. Curious about some deserving LGBTQIA+ nonprofits in Tennessee? Here’s a list of LGBTQIA+ nonprofits in Tennessee that we put together as a nice jumping-off point.

Sincerely,

The Women and LGBTQIA+ of Modist