ABOUT QSPF

Queer Sick Pay Fund (qSPF) provides sick pay to Queer performers in nightlife spaces who live and work in Seattle, WA. This protects queer artists and community from financial and physical harm by incentivising artists to stay home when not feeling well. We believe that the financial and physical health of Queer People guarantees that Seattle will thrive. Queer nightlife performers often live paycheck to paycheck, and the loss of even a single gig can be devastating. Other industries have systems of protection and guaranteed sick pay, but Queers just have each other, so Betty Wetter and Drama Tops came together to create this safety net for their community. 

Support qSFP and spend less time getting sick and more time getting SICKENING! You have the power to care for people who give you so much joy.

Mission: qSPF provides compensation to performers in Queer nightlife spaces in Seattle when they are not well. 

Vision: A world where all queer nightlife performers don’t need to lose money because they are ill.

Values: queer performing artist stability, queer health and safety, fair compensation.

Dreams: qSPF becomes so popular that they can increase grant amounts; other Queers in other cities recreate it; and the fund can support Queer people’s gender transitions.

This fund grants up to $1000 a year per applicant as a way for funds to be evenly distributed amongst community. 

Velocity Dance Center acts as qSPF’s fiscal sponsor. They take 8% of all donations to host the systems and administer the bookkeeping for the fund.

HOW TO APPLY

Criteria:

• Must be 18 years of age
• Must live in Greater Seattle Area (including Tacoma) 
• Gig must be a Queer Nightlife Performance Gig*
• Queer Nightlife Performance Gig missed must be within the last three months and be in Seattle city limits. 
• Must identify as Queer
• Has not received more than $1000 from qSPF in the last fiscal year (Jan-Dec)
• Must be able to make money in the USA

*We define Queer Nightlife Performance Gigs as performance gigs in queer clubs, bars or events. This could be but is not limited to: drag, burlesque, comedy, dance, theater, performance art, music.

HOW TO SUPPORT

To join the community of support for qSPF, contact us, or make a gift at the link below. We can also take donations via cash, check, Donor Advised Fund, stock donations, or through a giving portal like Benevity. Contact Erin (erin@velocitydancecenter.org) for more information. 

As a fiscally sponsored project, all gifts to qSFP made through Velocity Dance Center are tax deductible.