ONGOING
This Pride season, creators from all over the world are joining forces for a weekend-long journey of joy, visibility, and vital support. Welcome to the Gateway to Giving, a Twitch raid train dedicated to raising life-saving funds for SQSH (St. Louis Queer Support Helpline).
Who is SQSH?
In a world that can often feel isolating, SQSH serves as a literal lifeline. They are a grassroots nonprofit that nurtures connection, healing, and empowerment within our St. Louis Metro Area’s LGBTQIA+ community.
SQSH’s Peer Support Helpline offers free, confidential, identity-affirming peer support and resource referrals, by and for queer folks, to callers all across the US. Whether someone is looking for a queer-friendly resource, needs a safe space to share their story and receive deep listening, or wants to make a safety plan navigating a tough moment, SQSH’s peer counselors are there. SQSH also runs a free online database called SQSHBook that categorizes over 1,900+ resources across the St. Louis region and beyond. It features over 200 categories, filters for personalizing searches, badges to shoutout vetted resources, and a space for community reviews – so that our grassroots wisdom of queer safety can live on.
All SQSH programs have a common goal: for community members to emerge from the interaction with a stronger understanding of their own experience, to feel more connected to their power, and with guidance on how to do the work to change their lives. SQSH offers a space to be human, to feel heard, and to hold their hopes and fears — providing a queer-led, peer-led “gateway” to the resources and empathy every queer person deserves.
The Event: A Relay of Pride
The Gateway to Giving isn't just a stream—it’s a movement. Over the course of one full weekend, we are "passing the pride" from channel to channel in a non-stop relay.
As each streamer finishes their segment, they will raid the next creator in the lineup, keeping the momentum alive and the "Pride Line" open for 72 hours straight. This relay showcases the full spectrum of our community’s talent—all while working toward a collective fundraising goal.
Why "Gateway"?
The name Gateway to Giving is a nod to our St. Louis roots, but it’s also a promise. Each raid is a gateway to a new community; each donation is a gateway to a safer, more supported future for a queer person in need. By participating in the #SQSHathon, you are helping ensure that when someone reaches out for help, the line is open, the voice on the other end is kind, and the support is unconditional.
How You Can Help