EQUALUX 2024 was one for the record books! Hosted in the stunning Westin Seattle, our EQUALUX Hosting Partner, we came together to celebrate our community’s resilience amidst uncertainty and ensure bright futures for our LGBTQ+ scholars, both present and future. These scholars represent so many fields that strengthen and enrich our communities—chefs, entrepreneurs, artists, electricians, mental health advocates, and the leaders of tomorrow.
Thanks to everyone who joined us, EQUALUX 2024 made an impact we’ll be celebrating for years to come, raising nearly $900,000.
EQUALUX 2024 Highlights
The evening was filled with memorable moments, from our amazing host Adra Boo setting the vibe with great music, to all of you striking a pose at our photo stations. Guests also enjoyed our signature Wine Grab, Alaska Airlines Emerald Tickets, and the ever-popular Mystery Pride Boxes. And of course, many of you dove right into the fun with the new (and a little cheeky) game of Tops and Bottoms!
The silent auction may have been low-key, but the items were anything but—think Seattle Seahawks Superfan Packages, a Lake Washington Staycation, Seattle Kraken Pride Night tickets, and even a Wild Night at the Woodland Park Zoo. Meanwhile, the live auction, led by the incomparable Sasha Summer Cousineau of Revel Rouser Events, brought the energy with unforgettable experiences like raising the Pride flag on the Space Needle and exclusive Cyndi Lauper tickets!
Remarkably, the Raise the Paddle segment kicked off with a $200,000 gift from longtime GSBA supporter Kevin Spratt—thank you, Kevin! Glamazon then made their third consecutive $50,000 pledge, followed by John Rubino and Doug Dorton’s inspiring $30,000 contribution to their named fund. Dustin O’Quinn, Roby Schapira and Carole Lockhart also stepped up with $30,000. Even new friends joined the giving, with Uber pledging $25,000. Each of these gifts creates a real, lasting impact, and seeing our supporters come together like this was truly inspiring.
Plus, in a heartfelt tribute to the beloved chef and community advocate Tamara Murphy, we introduced the Tamara Murphy Food Is Love Scholarship during EQUALUX 2024. Guests raised their paddles in her memory, pledging $1,000 each to launch this scholarship, which will support LGBTQ+ students pursuing careers in culinary arts and food justice starting in 2025. It was a beautiful reminder that Tamara’s legacy of generosity and mentorship will continue to inspire future generations, which you can contribute to here.
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Partners
EQUALUX 2024 wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our incredible sponsors and partners. Our Title Sponsor, Car Pros Kia, and our Presenting Sponsor, Salesforce, helped led a list of generous supporters, including Alaska Airlines, Amazon, DML Insurance, DoorDash, Girlie Press, Morgan Stanley, Swire Coca-Cola, Symetra, T-Mobile, and Uber. We are also deeply grateful to our Official Wine Partner, Aluel Cellars; our Reception Bubbles Partner, Rotie Cellars; our Media Partners, The Puget Sound Business Journal and The Seattle Times; and our talented photographers, Mike Hipple and Malcolm Smith, who captured the magic of the evening.
Photo Gallery
See photos from Mike Hipple Photography here
