Locals Raise Funeral Funds for Gayborhood Bartender Killed

in Car Accident

Get a compelling long read and must-have lifestyle tips in your inbox every Sunday morning — great with coffee!

On Saturday, March 15th, Jes Metzger, a former bartender at Icandy, and three friends were killed in a car accident in Kansas. She was only 26 years old. Active in the U.S. Air Force, Metzger was recently stationed in the Midwest, but her loss was felt in a big way here in the Gayborhood.

To honor her memory and help Metzger’s family pay for her funeral, nine of her closest Philly friends started a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe that has already hit $4,400 of its $5,000 goal. The campaign will be followed up with a fundraiser / “Celebration of Life” event on Sunday, March 23rd, where folks are invited to gather and share memories.

Locals remember her as a spark in Philly’s LGBT community. Attorney Angela Giampolo says, “she was one of the most joyful souls with the brightest eyes I’ve ever met … Her impact on me, her friends and this community will never be forgotten.”

Tara Robertson, an organizer of the fundraiser, remembers Jes as “the little rainbow cricket of our lives. She would light up any room and bounce around. She was so sweet, always asking about how you were doing. She had an amazing singing voice, and was so dedicated to the LGBTQ community. She touched so many lives and made everyone feel loved.”

Our thoughts go out to Metzger’s family and friends.

To contribute to the GoFundMe campaign, go here. The fundraiser event takes place Saturday, March 23rd, from 2 p.m.to 10 p.m. at Icandy.