It is with sadness that the Love Your Labels Queer AF Committee has come to the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Queer AF: Design the Future Fashion Show.

Considering the rising number of cases due to the Delta variant of COVID-19, the Biden Administration's guidance that fully vaccinated folx should receive an additional booster shot, and other factors, we feel this is the right decision. Many of the people we work with have pre-existing healthcare conditions preventing them from receiving the vaccine and/or are parents of young children who are ineligible for the vaccine at this time, and we would never want to compromise the health or safety of anyone in our community. 

We will be refunding all folx who purchased a ticket by next week, Aug. 23. For any questions, please contact josh@loveyourlabels.org

In addition to being an event focused on eliminating bias, stigma, and shame by creating a welcoming space that encourages people to show up as their authentic selves (or explore what that means for them), Queer AF is also the primary fundraiser for our Threads Youth Fashion & Identity Program. Over eight weeks, Threads brings high school-age LGBTQ+ folx together to learn about fashion design in a curriculum centered around personal expression, gender and identity, mental health, and life skills. We’re committed to making our 2nd Threads program a reality in this coming year.

If you’d like support our mission-based work, you can donate here:

As part of a community, we have a responsibility to look out for one another. We have been facing the devastating impact of a global pandemic for over a year. Thanks to the efforts of committed scientists, researchers, and healthcare practitioners, we have the knowledge of how to slow and prevent the spread of this deadly virus; a vaccine and social distancing. With the Biden Administration’s new advisory that most Americans should receive a booster shot of the vaccine, and with the rising transmission rate of the COVID-19 variants, we encourage everyone who is physically able to get vaccinated. 

We often use the hashtag #UniqueUnited in our work, celebrating the notion that working together toward a shared vision of equity, equality, justice, and joy while celebrating the unique aspects of our individual identities can change the world. We encourage each of us who are able to get vaccinated and continue that encouragement to family, friends, coworkers, and colleagues. Let’s be united in advocating for the health of our community.