SPECIAL EVENTS

The very best special events including AIDS Walk New York; the Bronx Community Pride Center’s First Annual Fundraising Gala; Marriage Equality New York’s Wedding March 2007; The Hetrick-Martin Institu

Set the alarm, lace up a pair of beat-up sneakers and head over to Central Park on May 20 for AIDS Walk New York, the world’s biggest AIDS fundraiser and a NYC spring staple. Since 1986, this event has raised over $90 million for various AIDS services organizations such as the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and continues to up the ante year after year. So get some sponsors and get moving!

The Bronx Community Pride Center (BCPC) will host their First Annual Fundraising Gala on May 17 at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. The special event promises to be a sophisticated, fun-filled evening that will include a silent auction, live celebrity entertainment, great food, networking, celebration, music, dancing and more. To help celebrate this momentous occasion, over 200 people are expected to attend, including Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion; Congressman Jose Serrano; and Councilwoman Christine Quinn. Guests will be entertained by legendary R&B singer Freddie Jackson and the one and only Martha Wash.

On May 19, join Marriage Equality New York in New York’s largest community marriage rights action as droves of gay marriage supporters flock to Wedding March 2007. Hosted by the outrageous Gender Offenders, this year’s march begins in Manhattan’s Foley Square, continues over the Brooklyn Bridge and ends with a picnic/festival in Brooklyn’s Cadman Plaza. The LGBT community will be out in full force with our straight allies, supportive politicians, religious groups, and businesses, walking together to demand marriage equality rights not only in New York, but all across the nation!

On June 2, The Hetrick-Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk High School, will host its annual School’s Out fundraising event at the landmark East Hampton home of Peter Wilson. School’s Out celebrates the end of another successful school year for the nearly 1,000 LGBT students HMI serves annually. This year’s event, featuring honorary event co-chair Alan Cumming, includes cocktails, hors d’oeurves and dancing, with tunes by DJ Karin Ward. Some of HMI’s most promising youth will also be in attendance.

May 21, join LGBT youth mentoring organization Living Beyond Belief for their 5th Annual Butterfly Awards & Benefit at Hiro Ballroom in the Maritime Hotel. The event honors five NYC public high school seniors for their HIV/AIDS activism, and confirmed participants include Academy Award-winner Marisa Tomei, former NY Knick All-Star John Starks, NYC Council Speaker of the House Christine Quinn, Jason Bellini of CBS News on Logo, and Project Runway’s Zulema Griffin.

Kick off Pride season the right way—by the beach and in a state that allows beer tents! On June 3, head down to New Jersey’s seaside gay mecca, Asbury Park, for the 16th Annual LGBTI Pride Celebration. This event features a festival and parade along with live music and comedy, great food, arts and crafts, community information, exhibits, rides and performances by national recording artists. And after soaking up the rays at the festival, be sure to check out all the hot Pride parties thrown by the cluster of nearby gay and lesbian bars/clubs!

What could possibly pack more fun (and hilarity) than a gay scavenger hunt? Pretty much nothing, which is why you should sign up for The Amazingly Queer Race for Economic Justice before you lose your chance. The May 18th event will bring together a multitude of social justice organizations, celebrities, businesses and local and national community members to raise awareness of and gain support for Queers for Economic Justice in their services for low-income New Yorkers. One-hundred people, working in pairs as 50 sponsored teams, compete in a skill-based race/scavenger hunt throughout the city. Sign up and get your hunt on!

And be sure to add Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network’s Respect Awards to your list of important LGBT fundraisers to attend this spring. On May 21 at Cipiriani Wall Street, the fourth annual benefit gala honors individual and corporate leaders who have helped move GLSEN’s work forward and raise funds to make schools safer for all of America’s students. This year’s honorees include Morgan Stanley CEO John J. Mack, the National Education Association, and student organizer Elizabeth Duthinh.

Murray "Mr. Showbiz" Hill is proud, damn proud, to present and host the 7th Annual Miss Lez Pageant at Luna Lounge June 7. The Miss Lez Pageant is a wildly provocative, insane, jaw-dropping beauty pageant for queer women in NYC. Seven contestants compete in categories Platform, Swimsuit, Evening Gown, Interview, and Talent for "the title", $100 cash (in singles) and drink tickets. The winner is decided by a panel of celebrity judges including Michael Musto, Rebecca Drysdale and Rose Troche. Keep your eye out for GO’s contender!


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