The Partnership Aims to Raise Money to Empower The LGBTQ+ Community
New York, NY — [May 21, 2025] — Ilegal Mezcal and wayOUT, a national non-profit organization committed to empowering LGBTQ+ individuals, are proud to announce the fifth annual ‘celebratingYOU’ fundraising campaign. Running through June 2025, this initiative continues to champion mental and emotional wellness within the queer community while raising critical funds to support LGBTQ+ youth across the country.
Since 2021, Ilegal Mezcal has been a proud partner in this mission, launching the ‘celebratingYOU’ cocktail campaign at bars and restaurants across the country. A portion of every celebratingYOU cocktail sold, including the Ilegal Margarita and Spicy Paloma, has been donated to wayOUT, with past fundraising goals of $20,000 met in both 2021 and 2022, and $40,000 raised across 2023 and 2024. This year’s campaign aspires to build on that momentum by celebrating the spirit and resilience of the queer community while continuing to fund critical LGBTQ+ resources.
“Through ‘celebratingYOU,’ we’re not only raising funds — we’re creating visibility, sparking joy, and honoring the diverse identities that make our community beautiful,” says Kaylan Rexer, Head of Marketing at Ilegal Mezcal. “This year, we’re excited to launch our silent auction, where consumers and brand fans alike can bid on items starting on June 2nd in the hopes to raise more money and generate an even greater impact in our fifth rendition.”
Founded in San Francisco in 2016, wayOUT was born from a conversation among five friends who sought to bridge the gap amongst an increasingly divided nation and protect the LGBTQ+ community from growing threats. Since then, wayOUT has become a force for change by raising funds to invest directly in life-saving resources and programs for LGBTQ+ individuals — especially in places where society often tries to surpass who they are. To date, wayOUT has awarded grants to 23 such organizations including most recently Choosing Our Roots (Alaska), We Are Family (Charleston), Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition (Mississippi), and Coastal Bend Pride Center (Texas), helping elevate their national profile and address the immediate needs of queer communities.
“wayOUT is changing what it means to grow up as a minority in America,” Brenden Kennedy, President of wayOUT. “By investing in affirming programs at the local level, we aim to empower LGBTQ+ people to live openly and unabashedly — no matter where they live.”
Ilegal Mezcal will be hosting a celebratingYOU event in New York City, open to the public, at Public Records on Saturday, June 14th from 3 to 7 P.M. with proceeds going to wayOUT. Consumers in other cities, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas,Chicago, Austin, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and more can visit this interactive map to find participating venues near you.
About Ilegal Mezcal
Ilegal Mezcal was founded in 2006 and is today one of the leading artisanal mezcals in the world. Ilegal Mezcal is sold in over 40 countries and has won numerous awards for both quality and branding. The brand has won countless awards including a Gold Honor Shorty Award for Brand Identity and was named Agave Spirit of 2022 by Bloomberg. The company prides itself on bringing to market fine aged mezcals as well as its joven expressions. Ilegal is produced and bottled in Oaxaca, Mexico. The production is 100% artisanal, using ripe espadin agave, pit ovens, tahona mills, and small copper stills. Visit www.ilegalmezcal.com or Instagram.
About wayOUT
wayOUT is a national non-profit organization that invests in life-saving LGBTQ+ programs across the country. These affirming spaces provide access to critical resources such as personal and group therapy, housing assistance, food services, and medication — helping LGBTQ+ individuals live safely and authentically.
