The Bradin Austin Mercado Memorial Fund

This memorial fund honors the life of Bradin Austin Mercado — a queer, trans masculine, Black Latino — who exemplified strength, perseverance, light, and joy.

Although Austin did not experience the magic of camp, he made it known to his partner and those around him how much the existence of this space would have meant for him as a child, and how much it means for him to know this space exists for present and future generations of queer and trans youth. Before passing away on November 25, 2020, one of his last desires was to support Brave Trails, and the queer and trans youth who are positively impacted by this magical place.

Austin was born in Orlando, Florida and moved to Washington, DC in 2014, where he was diagnosed with cervical cancer on June 24, 2020. Austin was an extraordinarily vibrant, fiercely loved individual, who was known for his playful and mischievous demeanor.

Austin performed an integral role in his communities as a voluntary gender worker, meaning Austin gave freely the trans care and love upon which the trans community relies on for survival.

In 2020 Austin moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he married his partner of nearly three years, E Lev Feinman, who joined the Brave Trails community in 2019.

This memorial fund was created in his memory to honor his devotion to queer and trans communities, his commitment and service to others as a voluntary gender worker, and his love for Brave Trails, which fosters an environment for queer and trans youth to thrive.

Donations to this fund will support scholarships for campers of color, stipends for staff of color, and programs such as drag, arts and crafts, and more. Donations will also support the construction of a swimming pool and accessible, gender-inclusive changing facilities at Camp Brave Trails’ soon-to-be forever home!