Partying for Good
Each year Callen-Lorde hosts a bevy of special events, ranging from fun runs to galas, cocktail soirees to pool parties, all in support of our life-saving programs and services. In addition to this incredible calendar of events, Callen-Lorde is also the beneficiary of third party events hosted by friends, supporters and community members – people who throw parties for a living, and those who threw their very first house party with donations to support Callen-Lorde.
Since November 9th, Callen-Lorde has been the designee for proceeds from over a dozen benefits including drag shows, concerts, comedy shows and more, all organized by community members who were galvanized to make a change. “Dauphine of Bushwick” Tyler Ashley, performer and creator of the popular “Baby Tea” parties, held their second annual “Baby Tea for T: A Trans Advocacy Fundraiser” benefitting Callen-Lorde on November 20th, also the annual Trans Day of Remembrance.
“This Baby Tea is very close to my heart. It’s the 2nd time that we’ve made it into Baby Tea for T – A Trans Advocacy Fundraiser. Before I had a job with insurance, I went to Callen-Lorde many times. Callen-Lorde is a organization of hardworking, dedicated staff fighting for the rights and wellness of some of the most marginalized and in-need people of our time, not to mention the greater LGBTQ community at large. This is why I wanted to galvanize friends and family from various areas of my life to raise some money and awareness, honor transgender people who have lost their lives to acts of trans violence on Trans Day of Remembrance, and scream loud and proud that we will continue to fight for our rights, equality, well-being, and love.”
NYC Ballet Dancer Russell Janzen threw his first ever fundraiser on January 22nd in support of Callen-Lorde, recognizing the importance of healthcare services targeted to the LGBTQ communities.
“Seeing doctors and interacting with a staff that is sensitive to, aware of, and supportive of a queer patient’s experience is not a given, even in NYC. What Callen-Lorde provides – health services specifically for the LGBTQ community – is of immeasurable importance. The LGBTQ community often has different needs and seeing specialists who are sensitive to those needs and to what it means to be queer in NYC makes a world of difference. Most importantly, being in a safe and informed space makes it easier to take care of oneself.”
Most recently, Callen-Lorde was the beneficiary of the ‘Michael Musto Roast‘ on May 22nd at the Actors Temple in Manhattan. Hosted by Bruce Villanch, the roast featured a who’s who of downtown New York icons, celebrities, writers and comedians. Organized by PR genius Daniel Demello, roasters Rosie O’Donnell, Jinkx Monsoon, Bianca Del Rio, Judy Gold, Markus Kelle, Crystal Demure, Orfeh, Luann D’Agostino, Randy Jones, Randy Rainbow, Michael Riedel, and Avenue Q’s “Lucy the Slut” aka Elizabeth Ann Berg toasted Musto for nearly 3 hours and raised $20,000 for Callen-Lorde – which O’Donnell generously pledged to match dollar for dollar.
As Callen-Lorde continues to expand to meet the growing needs of our communities, support by individuals like this becomes even more important to help us ensure that we are there for those who need us most. If you’re interested in throwing a house party, drag show, concert, or any kind of benefit you can dream up, contact Sunil Persaud, Development Officer, at (212) 271-7263 or spersaud@callen-lorde.org for tools to help you throw a party for good!
Upcoming Benefits:
New York Frontrunners LGBT Pride Run: Saturday, June 25th, Central Park