Cupcake Royale’s The Gay cupcake is back for its 7th year, available for purchase in store and online through June 30. For every $4.50 Gay cupcake sold, 10% of sales will go directly to help achieve LGBT equality through our future leaders, the GSBA Scholarship Fund. The GSBA Scholarship Fund awards educational scholarships to Washington State LGBTQ and allied students who exhibit leadership potential, demonstrate strong academic abilities, and are actively involved in school and community organizations. This particular campaign has some personal meaning for me.
My uncle Dana passed away from AIDS-related complications in 1994. He was gay and asked the adults in my family not to tell me, my brother or my cousins. I grew up loving my Uncle Dana to pieces, and always looked forward to when he was around. I was aware that he seemed like he was sick quite often, but I did not know he had AIDS and I did not know he was gay until the day he died. I remember when the phone rang and my mom answered it and said, “Oh God!” before she started sobbing. After she got off the phone, my brother and I were told that Uncle Dana was gay and had AIDS and he has just passed away in the hospital. In the days and weeks that followed, I learned how ashamed he had been of himself and he didn’t want us kids to know because he thought we wouldn’t love him anymore. His death devastated our entire family, and for me personally, knowing he hid from me who he really was in fear I wouldn’t love him anymore completely broke my heart. Crying as I type this, I have been determined to not only share my Uncle’s story but support the true meaning of love. As has been said, love is love is love is love.
Speaking of love, I have learned since his death that Dana could still be alive today had he taken his medications in the proper doses. However, he had many friends who were also suffering from AIDS who could not afford the high costs of the medications. Because of his heart, Dana shared his medications with them, hoping that he could help prolong their lives and keep them from suffering like he was.
While his death was over 20 years ago, my heart still aches and all I want to do is give him a hug and tell him I love him no matter what. Dana Ray Walls will never be forgotten!!
Several years ago, Cupcake Royale collaborated up with Dan Savage and the “It gets better project,” donating more than $10,000 to help communicate to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth around the world that it gets better, and to create and inspire the changes needed to make it better for them.
Cupcake Royale will also be offering a Gay Sorbet, a fresh, light and fruity sorbet at the Capitol Hill location (1111 East Pike) from June 24-26.
To sweeten the pot even more, Cupcake Royale is also donating 10 percent of sales from their “Make America Gay Again” trucker hats and Rainbow Wristbands, which are available at all stores and sold online.
Don’t forget to hashtag your purchases this month!
#ShowYourPride
#MakeAmericaGayAgain
#BabyWeWereBakedThisWay
