Red dress party

In LGBT culture, red dress parties are events in which people wear red dresses, regardless of gender. The Red Dress Party fundraising event began in Portland, Oregon in 2001, with only 75 people in attendance.[1]

History

This event started as a promise kept by a gay male couple after they received HIV diagnoses. They each promised to wear red at their funerals instead of typical black attire, usually worn at funerals, in order to bring attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States.[2] Since 2005, Red Dress Parties have become popularized in other larger cities such as Chicago and San Diego. Attendees, mostly middle class or elite White men,[3] pay an entry ticket usually varying from $45 to $155 per person.[4] Nation-wide profits go to organizations such as; Planned Parenthood, Q Center Portland, AIDS Foundation, the Equality Project, and the HIV Funding Collective.[5]

Themes

The annual Red Dress Party almost always has a specific theme. During 2020's Covid-19 pandemic, Red Dress Party San Diego hosted a virtual event on Saturday, October 3.[6] During this virtual event, attendees were encouraged to participate in the "Serve Your Lewks" photo contest, which judges the participant's ability to create drag looks given a theme.[6] Portland's drag event, set to a "Roaring Red" theme, inspired by the 1920s' elegance, was postponed until further notice.[7] Previous Portland events include 2019's "Totally Red", 2018's "Wicked Red", 2017's "Red Queen", and 2016's "Walking Red".[7]

Locations

Cities with annual events include Portland, Oregon,[8] San Diego.,[9][10] Hollywood,[11] Seattle,[12] Sacramento,[13] and Chicago.[14]

Portland, Oregon

The Portland charity event began as a basement party in 2001,[15] and benefits organizations supporting LGBT youth and people living with HIV/AIDS.[16] The staff and crew are run entirely by volunteer workers.[17] Parties are now attended by 2,000 people and raise as much as $30,000 annually.[15] Chelsea Clinton attended the 2008 event.[16][18] The event is usually held at the Veteran's Memorial Coliseum. [19]

San Diego

Red Dress Party San Diego is presented by the Think Red Project, and funds generated from Red Dress Party San Diego directly benefit the San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative (SDHFC), which helps the community by offering grants to 501 (c) (3) organizations which then use the money to further advocate, support and educate those affected by HIV and AIDS.[20] Official board members include Nathan Mohle, Steven Shyne, Marvin Hanashiro, Vince Dwyer, and Alicia Cafarelli.[21]

Hollywood

Hollywood's annual Red Dress Party took place at Gold Coast Bar, before its closure in 2019. Attendees put their best red outfits on, and joined each other for drinks at a discounted price. It took place from 2pm to midnight. In previous years, all proceeds went to Life Group LA.[22]

Seattle

Held in Fremont Studios, Seattle's Red Dress Party takes up three large studio rooms, and an outside lot for food trucks. There are DJs, performers, and a silent auction that go towards donations. All proceeds go to local LGBTQ foundations and AIDS/HIV prevention organizations. Tickets are a tax write-off.[23]

Sacramento

Sacramento's Red Dress Party is organized by the Sacramento LGBT Community Center.[13] This event has been awarded Q-Sac Magazine's "2014 Best Gayborhood Party", a two-time cover feature on Outward Magazine, and news coverage on the Morning Show on Fox40, and News 10.[24]

Chicago

Chicago's Red Dress Party is presented by the Equality Project.[14] Events include DJs, drag races, and singers.[25]

References
  1. "HISTORY". Red Dress PDX. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  2. Erbentraut, Joseph. "The Red Dress Party set for Chicago debut". ChicagoPride.com. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  3. “‘Sister Outsiders’: Navigating Whiteness.” Queer Nuns: Religion, Activism, and Serious Parody, by Melissa M. Wilcox, vol. 33, NYU Press, New York, 2018, pp. 140–172. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvwrm4qx.8. Accessed 16 Nov. 2020.
  4. "Chicago Red Dress Party". chicagoreddressparty. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  5. "About Red Dress Party SD". Red Dress Party San Diego. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  6. "Red Dress Party San Diego 2020 Virtual Event". Red Dress Party San Diego. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  7. "HOME". Red Dress PDX. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  8. Spencer, Aaron (May 6, 2013). "The Red Dress Party, In Fragments". Willamette Week. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  9. Rawles, Timothy (August 12, 2016). "Getting 'Red & Wild' with The Red Dress Party San Diego". San Diego Gay & Lesbian News. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  10. Rawles, Timothy (March 11, 2016). "Red Dress Party San Diego returns Oct. 2016". San Diego Gay & Lesbian News. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  11. Desk, News (2019-07-22). "THE SEEN - The 23rd Annual Red Dress Party 2019 At Gold Coast Bar". WeHo Times. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  12. "5th Annual Seattle Red Dress Party (21+ Event)". www.brownpapertickets.com. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  13. "Sacramento Red Dress Party". Sacramento365. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  14. "Chicago Red Dress Party". chicagoreddressparty. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  15. "LGBT festivals & events". Travel Portland. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  16. "Chelsea Clinton at the Red Dress Party". Blue Oregon. April 15, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  17. "Red Dress Party". The Official Guide to Portland. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  18. "Chelsea Clinton's Fierce Night Out with the Gays". New York. New York Media, LLC. April 16, 2008. ISSN 0028-7369. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  19. "Portland Red Dress Party 2021 started in 2001 as a basement party". Gay Travel 4u. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  20. SDGLN, Timothy Rawles-Community Editor for (2016-11-07). "2016 Red Dress Party San Diego a 'complete success' organizers say". San Diego Gay and Lesbian News. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  21. "Our Team". Red Dress Party San Diego. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  22. Desk, News (2019-07-22). "THE SEEN - The 23rd Annual Red Dress Party 2019 At Gold Coast Bar". WeHo Times. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  23. "5th Annual Seattle Red Dress Party (21+ Event)". www.brownpapertickets.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  24. "Sacramento Red Dress Party". sac-red-dress-party. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  25. "Chicago Red Dress Party". chicagoreddressparty. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
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