AUSTIN (KXAN) — While the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) holds its 19th annual HAAM Day on Sept. 24 celebrating the city’s music community, one group is showcasing local LGBTQ+ musicians with its Pride in Local Music event.
“We started during COVID as a way to highlight musicians — we did it as an all-online event, of course,” said Tina Cannon, President and CEO of the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve had it at the Long Center, we’ve had it on Fifth Street, and this year we’re partnering with our friends at ACL and HAAM to produce it during [HAAM’s] big music festival.”
HAAM Day is one of the organization’s biggest fundraisers, with over 200 live music performances across the city, all for free. Money is raised through local businesses pledging part of their earnings on HAAM Day, or sponsoring the event. All funds go to ensuring Austin musicians can gain access to healthcare they may not have otherwise.
“It’s really important for us to shine a spotlight on musicians that are disproportionately impacted by access to healthcare, and that includes the LGBTQIA community,” said Christopher Alberts, HAAM’s chief development officer.
While the whole festival raises money for HAAM, the Pride in Local Music showcase also helps promote the musicians themselves.
“We’ve watched some of our LGBT musicians over the course of the last couple of years go on to play ACL, Bonnaroo, and other venues that are much larger,” Cannon said.
The Pride in Local Music showcase begins at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 24 at 3ten ACL Live.