Steer Queer Serves as a Lifeline, One Party at a Time

Miami's nightlife scene has long been a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ communities, but few collectives have made as direct an impact as Steer Queer.

At the Corner downtown, you'll see some of the most extravagant performances in one of the most welcoming spaces in the 305. But the organizers behind Steer Queer aren't just throwing a party — they're building a lifeline. Founded with the mission to support trans and queer individuals through mutual aid, the grassroots collective has cultivated an inclusive, celebratory space while also raising funds for gender-affirming care, housing stability, and other essential needs.

The initiative began as a response to a tragic event: the unprovoked murder of a homeless trans woman in Miami Beach last year. It was a shocking, tragic headline for anyone who stays tapped into South Florida news, and one of Steer Queer's coordinators, Teal Perez, explains how the loss catalyzed their efforts.

"She was known by a lot of trans women in the community, and we just felt like if we could hold a space that might raise funds to help one person find housing, that would be amazing. That was our goal at first," Perez explains. "But then it grew beyond what we ever imagined. People started reaching out, and we realized just how much demand there was in Miami for this kind of support."

At each event, Steer Queer spotlights a community member in need by making them the honorary guest of the night, and every dollar raised during the evening goes directly to the individual. It's a departure from most organizations that will usually donate to a bigger fund, as Steer Queer's organizers believe giving the money directly to the individual or individuals at the end of the event is more impactful for all parties involved.

"Sometimes it's really meaningful and personal when the audience gets to know this one single person," Perez adds. "Every dollar we raise at the event goes straight to them, whether it's for hormones, savings for surgery, or whatever they need. It doesn't go through us. It doesn't get funneled through some middleman. The community is directly supporting one of its own."
Much of the financial support that allows Steer Queer to make these life-changing donations comes from local businesses that donate prizes for fundraising raffles. Some of those businesses include Sweat Records, Mama Tried, Gramps, and others across Miami, all coming together to contribute things like gift cards and experiences in order for the budding organization to sustain its mission. According to donations manager Lily Beckmann, even a small $50 gift card incentivizes people to walk through the door and donate, eventually transforming into "a meaningful step toward the honorary guest's transition or stability."

But beyond the financial assistance provided by these local businesses, Steer Queer's events also provide an artistic platform for emerging queer performers. It's something the team takes real pride in, literally centering individuals on an open stage to display their creative talents within a welcoming environment.

"Every dollar we raise at the event goes straight to them. It doesn't go through us. It doesn't get funneled through some middleman."

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"We've had people step onto our stage for their very first performance, and now they're getting booked all over Miami," Beckmann shares. "Some of them are especially trans folks who just want to explore their identity in a safe space. So it becomes more than entertainment — it's self-actualization."

Perhaps that commitment to helping locals looking for gender-affirming care is a sort of self-actualization in its own right for the new local initiative, which has seen tremendous growth and traction in just a little under a year of operation.

Currently, the collective is in the process of establishing a nonprofit, the Queer Party Project, to expand its impact throughout the entire state of Florida. With official nonprofit status, it hopes to secure larger donations and extend its reach to people who truly need the funds, especially under a new federal administration that is actively targeting trans people.
"In times like these, when trans people are being actively targeted by legislation and hateful rhetoric, sticking together is everything," Beckmann says. "Creating spaces like this — where people feel safe, seen, and supported — can be life-saving. And if we can make that difference for even one person, then it's all worth it."

But for now, Steer Queer continues to bring Miami's LGBTQ+ community together, one event at a time. Its next event, titled "The Flowers of Steer Queer," is set to take place Thursday, March 13, and will highlight femme and nonbinary performers in honor of Women's History Month. The performers include budding drag and burlesque performers Sarita Bon Bon, Opal Am Rah, and Goddes Zenith. Past pageants have raised over $800 for individual winners, and this next event promises another night of powerful performances and community celebration with the right turnout.

If you or someone you know is looking for support — whether it's housing stability, top or bottom surgeries, hormones, or simply finding the right community of dolls and queer individuals — both Perez and Beckmann say there's no waitlist to become the next honorary guest. All you have to do is shoot them a DM on Instagram or reach out via email. As for allies, whether through donations, attendance, or simply spreading the word about Steer Queer, the group's organizers say every bit of support is crucial to reinforcing a community that refuses to be ignored.

"At the end of every party, people come up to us and say they're reminded that they're not alone," Perez adds. "No matter how big or small the crowd, there's always this overwhelming love and support. That's the most rewarding thing."

Steer Queer. With Sarita Bon Bon, Goddess Zenith, Opal Am Rah, and DJ Zehno. 10 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at the Corner, 1035 N. Miami Ave., Miami; thecornermiami.com. Admission is free.