Seattle’s Pride calendar is getting a glamorous new addition this year. On June 13, Lifelong will debut the Pride Gala: An Evening for Equality, a new black-tie fundraising event blending entertainment, art, and advocacy at The Sanctuary at the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seattle.

Billed as Seattle’s only formal Pride dinner, the inaugural gala aims to celebrate the region’s LGBTQ+ community while raising funds for Lifelong’s health and human services programs and Seattle Pride initiatives. The evening includes a cocktail reception, a three-course dinner, a live art auction curated by Seattle Art Source, and a stacked entertainment lineup led by Grammy-winning singer Macy Gray, Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, and drag entertainer Miz Cracker. Fashion stylist and television personality Brad Goreski will host the evening.

The gala will also recognize two prominent LGBTQ+ figures for their impact on visibility and representation. Emmy-winning actress and advocate Laverne Cox will receive the Lifelong Pride in Action Award, while social media personality and LGBTQ+ advocate Chris Olsen will receive the LGBTQ+ Changemaker of the Year Award.

For Lifelong, the event serves as both a Pride celebration and a reflection of the organization’s long history in Seattle. Founded in 1983 during the HIV/AIDS crisis, Lifelong began as a grassroots effort supporting people living with HIV and has since expanded its services to include food access, healthcare navigation, housing support, and nutrition programs for thousands of Washingtonians.

“Lifelong’s inaugural Pride Gala celebrates Seattle’s inclusive values and our rich, 43-year history, beginning with our fight for health access during the rise of the HIV epidemic,” says James Shackelford, the organization’s CEO. “In choosing performing partners, we looked to Macy Gray for her distinctive style and cultural recognition. This event is about visibility, hope, optimism, celebration, and community—all cornerstones of Pride that Macy Gray’s music embodies.”

Gray says she was drawn to the gala because of both its celebratory atmosphere and its community impact.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to show up for the LGBTQ+ community in a joyful celebration of Pride,” Gray says. “Pride stands for courage, self-expression, and love—values that have shaped my life and my music from the very beginning.”

She also points to Lifelong’s direct support services as a reason she wants to participate.

“To be part of Lifelong’s very first Pride gala feels especially meaningful because I get to support such a loving community and a mission that is helping so many people,” she says. “Lifelong is doing real work to help people access basic needs like food and healthcare.”

Jake Shears

Seattle native Jake Shears echoes that sense of Pride as celebration and visibility as he returns to his hometown for the event.

“For me, queer joy is the definition of Pride, so I am thrilled to return to Seattle and support a hometown legacy nonprofit that is making a difference in the lives of over 8,000 Washingtonians,” Shears says. “I’ve always tried to bring queer culture into the mainstream in a way that feels joyful and unapologetic, and I think a Pride event like this gives the community a chance to celebrate itself in a bigger, more elevated way.”

Cox says the gala’s focus on visibility and support aligns closely with her own advocacy work.

“Pride is about community, visibility, and collective action, and I’m honored to be part of a night that celebrates all three,” Cox says. “I’m grateful that my commitment to amplifying LGBTQ+ voices and stories resonates with my community, and I thank Lifelong for recognizing the impact this work has made.”

Olsen also emphasizes the importance of authenticity and representation within LGBTQ+ spaces.

“It’s amazing that showing up as my most authentic self to millions of people around the world has created space for conversation, visibility, and understanding among the LGBTQ+ community,” Olsen says. “Pride has always been a celebration of acceptance and showing up for one another, and I think the work Lifelong is doing to support people in the community every day embodies that spirit in such an authentic way.”

The live auction features works from local artists such as Christy Hopkins and Jeffry Mitchell, with proceeds benefiting Lifelong’s wraparound care programs and Seattle Pride youth initiatives.

“I’m bringing a mix of songs that people know and love, plus a few that’ll get everybody up and having a good time,” Gray says. “People are coming together to celebrate Pride, support an important cause, and just feel good together, and I want my music to set the tone for that experience.”

For ticket and table information, go here www.PrideGala.org.