It was raining pretty hard as Zeke stepped into Proud Haven for the first time. He clutched a backpack—half-empty, but heavy with stories no one had asked to hear. The front desk volunteer greeted him with warmth, not questions. That was the first flicker of hope.

Inside, the walls bore art from others like him—trans and queer youth who had wandered into shelter and found community. It wasn’t perfect, but it was safe. The kind of safety that comes not from locks, but from being seen.

One month later, Zeke was helping stock the QMNTY Closet, folding clothes for others he hadn’t met yet but already understood. He was no longer surviving—he was part of something bigger.

Proud Haven didn’t just shelter him. It gave him a place to belong, to contribute, to heal.

Beacon of Hope is about that kind of transformation. A celebration of stories like Zeke’s—of music, art, and shared meals that fuel the mission to uplift trans and queer youth facing homelessness.

Come light the way. One night. Countless futures.

Beacon of Hope Gayla 2025

Shining a Light on Trans & Queer Homelessness in Pittsburgh