White Party
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The White Party is the name of a number of circuit parties held annually, catering to the LGBT communities. Its name comes from the requirement that party-goers dress in all or almost all white. White Parties have taken place in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Palm Springs, California; and Montreal, Quebec, Canada, although the events are not affiliated with each other.
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[edit] Miami
The Miami White Party is an annual fundraiser party for HIV/AIDS research. The all-white clothing theme was chosen by co-founder Frank Wager because, as he said, "White stands for purity. White is elegant, non-political, non-combative and makes people look just plain beautiful." The Miami party began as a small fundraising event for the Health Crisis Network in 1985, bringing in a total of $16,000. In 1995, more events joined the White Party, including "The Victory Party" and "Muscle Beach". In 1998, the Health Crisis Network merged with Community Research Initiative, and the White Party brought in over $2 million for their efforts. It is now the largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser in the world. With DJs and artists attending from all over the world, the music has come to be renown and a central part of the party. White Party CDs have been produced since 1996.
Today Care Resource (Community AIDS Resource) governs the party. It operates with over 100 employees in both Dade and Broward County providing medical, counseling, testing, psychosocial, a food bank and more to their clients. White Party Week in Florida attracts thousands of participants with over 13 events, including a fundraising brunch at the Versace mansion, an exclusive beach party, and a New York Times celebrity speaker panel, in addition to the White Party itself. The Miami White Party has been featured in W, Vanity Fair, Glamour magazine, The New York Times, and has been the subject of documentaries on Bravo, The Travel Channel, the BBC, Playboy Channel, and others. It is the setting for the 2001 documentary film When Boys Fly.[1] [2]
White Party Week in Florida attracts thousands of participants with over 13 events, including a fundraising brunch at the Versace mansion, an exclusive beach party, and a New York Times celebrity speaker panel, in addition to the White Party itself. [3]
[edit] Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale also has its own White Party. It is, however, held inconsistently and is not as big as the Miami party.
[edit] Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California also hosts an annual White Party. It was the partial setting for the 2001 feature film Circuit. The Palm Springs White Party was also featured in a 2004 episode of the television series The L Word and in a 2006 episode of the reality television series The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency. The Palm Springs White Party was described by Frommer's Travel Guide as "one of the biggest and best on the US party circuit ... [with] over 20,000 gay men dressed in white."[4]
[edit] Montreal
Every Easter Sunday in Montreal, a white party (Bal en Blanc) catering to both straight and gay ravers is held. It usually attracts over 16,000 attendees and prominent international DJs such as Armin Van Buuren, Above and Beyond, Offer Nissim, Peter Rauhofer, Deep Dish, Tiësto, David Guetta, and many others.
[edit] References
- ^ "When Boys Fly" (2001), The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ When Boys Fly credits. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Ramone Johnson, "The White Party" About.com, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- ^ "White Party Spring Break", Frommer's Online Travel Guide. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
