AIDS Thrift angles for funds
Philly AIDS Thrift, a local store that donates a significant portion of its revenue to area HIV/AIDS causes, will host a fundraising party from 5-9 p. m. June 5 at the Magic Garden, 1022 South St.
Tom Brennan, PAT store manager, said “PAT’s Summer of Love 2009: A Garden Party” will raise funds for needed improvements to the store, such as new fixtures and a security system.
“When we opened the store, we took over a building with many problems, but the rent was right, so we made the best of it,” Brennan said. “We’ve improved the space a lot in the three-and-a-half years since, but there’s more to do.”
Brennan said the store is looking to fundraising so it doesn’t have to use any sales proceeds for the building improvements. Since its 2005 opening, PAT has donated more than $120,000 to local HIV/AIDS service organizations.
The fundraising event will feature food, drinks, a silent auction and music by DJ TransAm and local band Dangerous Ponies.
General-admission tickets are $25 and VIP tickets, available for $50, include an open bar. Tickets will be available at the door.
For more information, visit www.phillyaidsthrift.com
Center hosts Building Bash
The LGBT and ally community is invited to the William Way LGBT Community Center’s annual Building Bash fundraiser June 6 to celebrate the agency’s 12th year in the facility, 1315 Spruce St.
The general reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dedication of the center’s new elevator at 6:15 and the first-annual Founders Dinner at 7:30.
Tickets to the reception, which includes an open bar, are $25, and for $75 visitors can also take a “champagne elevator ride.” Tickets to the Founders Dinner, which also include the reception, open bar and elevator ride, begin at $275.
Expected guests include Mayor Nutter, state Sens. Larry Farnese (D-1st Dist.) and Christine Tartaglione (D-2nd Dist.) and state Reps. Dwight Evans (D-203rd Dist.) and Babette Josephs (D-182nd Dist.).
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.waygay.org or contact Mike Nuno at [email protected] or (215) 732-2220.
New Jersey celebrates Pride
LGBT communities from around the region will participate in the 18th-annual LGBTI Pride Celebration from noon-7 p.m. June 7 at Ocean and Fifth avenues in Asbury Park, N.J.
Hundreds of marchers will participate in the annual parade, and more than 100 vendors and artisans will take part in the festival, which will feature entertainment by Evelyn “Champagne” King, the Cliks and Kinsey Sicks.
Also during the weekend, The ShowRoom, an independent theater at 708 Cookman Ave. in Asbury Park, will feature the first screening of LGBT-themed movie “Outrage” in the state. The theater will show the 90-minute documentary that examines closeted American politicians at 9 p.m. June 5 and 4 p.m. June 7. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.theshowroomap.com or call (732) 502-0472.
For more information about the Pride celebration, visit www.jerseypride.org.
— Jen Colletta
AIDS Law Project holds fundraiser
The 10th-annual fundraiser for the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania will feature the screening of “Born Reckless,” starring acclaimed actor Mamie Van Doren.
The fundraiser will be held at 6 p.m. June 12 on the 11th floor of the Wanamaker Building, Juniper Street between Chestnut and Market.
“We look to this event to fill the gaps in our funding brought on by the economy,” said Ronda B. Goldfein, executive director of the Law Project. “It’s incredibly important that folks come out to support us.”
She said the Law Project is the nation’s only public-interest law firm providing free legal services to people with HIV/AIDS.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, and can be purchased at www.aidslawpa.org or by calling (215) 587-9377.
Marcavage files federal suit
Michael A. Marcavage, director of Repent America, an anti-LGBT Christian group, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Philadelphia Police Department for allegedly violating his constitutional rights at four LGBT-related events in the city.
A named defendant in the lawsuit is Capt. William V. Fisher of the department’s Civil Affairs Division, who allegedly “tore” a video camera from Marcavage’s hands last month during an LGBT march sponsored by Equality Forum.
Other incidents cited in Marcavage’s lawsuit, which was filed June 2, allegedly took place at the LGBT Pride Parade and Festival in June 2007 and June 2008, and at a Proposition 8 demonstration near City Hall in November 2008.
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno.
The city has not yet responded to the complaint.
— Tim Cwiek