BIRTHDAY BASH
Our annual Birthday Bash is a joyous evening bringing together 150+ supporters of our mission for music, Drag performances, delicious food, and a silent auction — all to fundraise for safer spaces and thriving futures for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth across the Midwest.
Our vision is for all 2SLGBTQIA+ youth to have a network of support to help them develop a strong sense of pride in who they are, where they come from, and where they want to go.
Thanks to supporters, our 2026 Birthday Bash on April 16 at LUSH Lounge & Theater was a record-breaking success! See highlights and photos from the night below.
2026 BIRTHDAY BASH HIGHLIGHTS
A toast to breaking records! This year's Birthday Bash was our highest-attended AND highest-earning yet!!
Over 200 people gathered at Lush Lounge & Theater on April 16 to celebrate QUEERSPACE's 5th birthday and raise over $70,000 for our youth programs. It was an incredible feat of what Queer joy and power can do when we all show up.
A huge shout-out to DJ Blowtorch for the beats, our fabulous Queens Maxi, Julia Starr, and Miz Frozaen for the showstopping drag, and our youth, caregivers, staff, volunteers, and community leaders for sharing their powerful stories – it wouldn't be a Queer party without y'all.
Five years ago, we never could've imagined the growth and impact we would have today. Thank you for believing in our mission and continuing to invest in 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. It really does take a collective.
We were thrilled to announce the winners of our 206 Birthday Bash Awards: Ginger Hexum and Roxanne Anderson. Their extraordinary leadership, compassion, and vision is felt throughout the Queer community. Learn about their work and impact below.
Every year at our Birthday Bash, we invite our community to nominate an outstanding human for our 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth Champion Award. These are individuals who have gone above and beyond to support and empower Queer and Trans youth in Minnesota the past year.
A small business owner, Ginger Hexum (she/her) was nominated for her fierce dedication to Queer and Trans youth. Ginger is the owner of The Hair Creative, an inclusive hair salon in Minneapolis. Since 2023, she has organized The Gender Free Haircut Club, providing free, gender-affirming haircuts to underserved Queer and Trans youth. Her advocacy continues through her work with The Dresscode Project, a global alliance of salons committed to creating positive, gender-affirming experiences for 2SLGBTQIA+ clients.
Beyond her professional work, Ginger has also generously supported QUEERSPACE over the years, volunteering her time to help raise funds for our youth programs. Her impact stood out clearly to QUEERSPACE leadership, making her a deserving winner of this award.
2026 2SLGBTQIA+ YOUTH CHAMPION: GINGER HEXUM
Every year at our Birthday Bash, the QUEERSPACE leadership team selects and awards an outstanding individual for the Andrea Jenkins Legacy Award. This person is someone who exemplifies her fierce spirit and advocacy for Trans youth, especially Black Trans youth.
Roxanne Anderson (they/them) is an award-winning community organizer, activist, and abolitionist with over 35 years of experience in social justice and service. A 2018 Bush Fellow, Roxanne is a champion for visible Transgender leadership of color and its power to strengthen communities.
They currently serve as Director of Programs at the Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition and are the co-founder of both RARE Productions, a multimedia company uplifting queer artists of color, and OUR Space, a developing LGBTQ+ community center focused on initiatives including Trans housing and shelter.
Roxanne is a skilled facilitator on topics such as LGBTQ+ identities, sexual liberation, safer spaces, and racial equity, and serves on multiple boards and community leadership teams across Minnesota.
2026 ANDREA JENKINS LEGACY AWARD: ROXANNE ANDERSON
Got questions or want to get involved with Birthday Bash?
Feel free to contact Dustin, our Development & Communications Director, at dustin@queerspacecollective.org!