The Lavender Room is a queer-ran mutual aid DIY arts promoter & production company based in Buffalo, New York. Our programming centers on music, art, and community events that are focused on bringing together community, while raising funds for mutual aid efforts within that community. Much of our work generates funds for mutual aid, using art as a catalyst for community benefit, growth, and change. We are dedicated to creating safer spaces for queer, trans, BIPOC, and working class folks to come together to make and enjoy art in community. We believe that when folks enter community space together, they are in a better position to feel respected and empowered, as well as gain empathy for folks who aren't quite like themselves. The Lavender Room is operated by trans, queer, and BIPOC organizers, and partners with several community organizations and local businesses, as well as organizing tour management for artists in the Rustbelt, Northeast and Ontario.

Throughout the past year, The Lavender Room has continued to grow and develop its' community programs throughout Buffalo, finding a homebase at Amy's Place & Area 54. As we've grown, we've continued to grow our programs & events to support a larger variety of interests - rather it be our DIY punk & indie shows, open mic coffeehouse events, festivals, parties, and community social groups.

As we've done this, we've continued top expand our attendance, but have contributed most of our funds towards our direct payment mutual aid programs - directly contributing funds to individuals in our local community to go towards food, housing, healthcare, transportation, and more. This is all a part of our organizing - but it has left us in need of some more supplies to support our productions and programs.

So, that's where you come in - by funding us here, you give us the ability to use these funds for operating costs, and giving us a better ability to then generate more funds for mutual aid. On average, for every $1 The Lavender Room takes in, we are able to create $2 extra for mutual aid efforts.

Your contribution will be used for, but not limited to:

1) A second sound system - (speakers, sound board, cables, etc.) to loan out to community members for use to help them create their own projects.

2) Purchasing a permanent gas generator for outdoor events.

3) Craft supplies for community events.

4) Covering expenses for organizers & volunteers when engaging in mutual aid (gas, food, other expenses incurred from driving folks to appointments, setting up shows, and other mutual aid activities!)

5) A new drum mic set for better sound for drummers & their bands

6) Renting a music practice space for community use

7) Continuing funding for the development of our new Lavender Room website.

8) Artist mutual aid cuts. Sometimes, a show just doesn't turn out the way we expect, and a touring artist is at a risk of taking a loss for that night of tour. The Lavender Room guarantees $50 to every artist booked who comes to Buffalo from 80 or more miles away - and these funds will help to ensure that.

10) Mutual aid funds to be dispersed in contributions for community members requesting mutual aid.

As a fiercely anti-capitalist organization, we continually wrestle with the idea of requesting funds for any purpose that is not direct contributions to mutual aid. However, we recognize that any funds put into the Lavender Room create mutual aid efforts for queer folks, and marginalized folks broadly- all while creating experiences for art, entertainment, joy, and collaboration. Any possible funds from community members, whether it be 50 cents or 500 dollars, will contribute to better serving the queer and artistic communities of Buffalo and NYS, as well as the community as a whole. We thank you with our deepest gratitude for your continued support of this project, and of all efforts to provide antifascist solutions to circumstances that effect folks who are queer, trans, nonbinary, black, of color, disabled, neurodivergent, women, and any intersection in between and beyond.

We Keep Us Safe,

-The Lavender Room Team

To see what we're up to, and for further updates on how we use your contributed funds, follow us on Instagram !