Last year, VancouFur, a convention for furries, donated the substantial amount of $20,000 to the 2SLGBTQIA+ charity, QMUNITY, and this year VancouFur has matched their previous donation, just in time for Qmunity’s 45th anniversary.
QMUNITY provides support, connection, and leadership to 2SLGBTQIA+ members of all ages with events and programs such as art workshops, employment programs, counciling, and aid helping navigate the community whether it be for education or a sense of community.
It is thanks to the generous donations that helped QMUNITY do all of this and more, and VancouFur intends to extend this partnership through the 2025 convention year
VancouFur reached out to Micheal Robach, the Director of Development at QMUNITY, for an interview to ask about the impact of their contribution, as well as give more information about QMUNITY and who they are as a charity resource center and safe space for 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
“Thanks to the donations from VancouFur, we’ve been able to increase our capacity within the Youth Program. We’ve also been able to support a record number of queer, trans, and two spirited youth. We’ve had 3,100 youth in BC access programs within QMUNITY. We’ve gone from 380 to 522 free gender affirming garments that were mailed to trans youth across the province. QMUNITY has delivered over 1,000 hours of 1-on-1 support with youth and families to help them navigate sexual orientation and gender identity.”
While VancouFur was throwing its own community celebration, their partying has allowed for over 3050 queer, trans, and two spirited youth to come out to a special event hosted by QMUNITY; Queer prom.
“Part of VancouFur’s donation, about $5000, was used to help elevate our Queer Prom to help youth feel celebrated and find queer joy. We had over 3050 queer, trans, and two spirit youth come out to Queer Prom this past year.”
Micheal expressed his profound gratitude to VancouFur and the furries that run it for all of the support that they’ve received now, and in the past from VancouFur’s events:
“Partnerships keep us afloat through and through. It’s one thing for an organization to make a one time donation and then disappear. This is our third year partnering with VancouFur and the donations have made such an impact on our work. It’s a completely different story when we are able to hold onto partnerships and see programming grow year over year.”
It was in this united partnership that QMUNITY has been able to do all of these great things. They’ve even helped members of the furry community in the past. Having reached out to the furry community who’ve used QMUNITY’s services and even attended some of their events, had some amazing things to say;
One of the fandom members had this to say about Queer prom, sharing their story about attending a previous event, and how much it meant to them.
“We went to different schools in high school and couldn’t go to either of their proms because they had some ridiculous rule that you had to fill out a form for someone outside the school to attend, and both of our principals pretty much said you couldn’t bring another girl. This was back before either of us knew we were/came out as trans without outright saying it. So we thought we wouldn’t ever be able to have that experience. That’s why we ended up not going until we’d already graduated. It was the first place we were ever able to hold hands or hug each other and not worry about what the people around us were going to do or if they were staring at us. it felt really safe and like everyone there just kinda accepted everybody, All the volunteers around were super welcoming and friendly. They had this little photo booth set up with a bunch of props, that was really fun. They rented out the rec hall of some building, but it was all decorated and had lights everywhere, it was a lot of fun”
They also shared one of their more special moments that happened at Prom, showing that some truly magical things can happen when given the space to do so.
“it’s super sappy but the thing that stands out most in my memory is that we had our first kiss with our partner there. The song that was playing when it kissed us is still ‘our song’, I’m pretty sure we want it to be our first dance song when/if we ever get married.”
The next fandom member who was reached out to, shared their personal experiences using QMUNITY’s resources to help them navigate the sometimes strange and confusing world of transitioning.
“They helped teach and guide me through changing my legal name during my outward facing gender transition, as well as provided safe spaces that I could simply be in, relax, ask questions, learn, figure myself out, and just be safe in without harm from people out to get me for being me.”
They continued further to talk about their own personal experiences with the organization.
“When I was feeling suicidal, the few times I was back then. They helped talk me out of it and showed me how to look at things differently. Which overall improved my mental health. They were always a great knowledge base of resources, where to start, how to do certain things, taught me what to expect, and what I need to do to make it out the other end of my transition the best, and in one piece. They were my home away from home.”
This year for their 2025 convention, VancouFur is extending their partnership with QMUNITY. If you want to make an art donation for their auction please follow this link here. At the convention you will also be able to participate in a 50/50 draw, and bid on the pieces of art and other services like commission slots that were created and donated by members of the furry fandom at their auction. This is all in support and solidarity with QMUNITY and all 2SLGBTQIA+ persons. With your help, QMUNITY and VancouFur can continue to make the lives of so many people that much brighter.