National Constitution Center Laser Show at Blue Ball

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A celebration of UNITY BLUE BALL MARKS ITS 15TH YEAR WITH PARTIES AND FUND-RAISING FOR GAY GROUPS.
By Christine Ma INQUIRER STAFF WRITER (see link at end)
Posted: January 28, 2005

In 1991, a handful of supporters gathered for a single night at the first Blue Ball celebration to raise money for AIDS awareness.

Starting tonight, thousands of partyers from around the country will be dancing the weekend away, as Blue Ball Philadelphia celebrates its 15th year of supporting the city’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

And as the event’s success has grown, so has its appeal.

“It’s a welcoming environment,” said Matthew Ray, cochairman of marketing, advertising, public relations and media relations at the Sapphire Fund, the parent organization of Blue Ball since 2002. “It’s definitely a very high-energy event.”

Now spanning three nights and several nightclubs, the all-volunteer event has raised more than $1.25 million for various organizations. With this year’s “Unite!” theme, the group hopes to exceed $100,000, the total from last year’s event, Ray said.

And for the second straight year, the weekend’s showcase event will be held at the National Constitution Center, a venue some say is ideal.

“It makes a statement, as a declaration of our role as citizens of Philadelphia,” said Mark Blecher, president of the Sapphire Fund. “It’s a great place. We think that it is a very significant space in terms of what it represents.”

But Derek Seder, a previous attendee of Blue Ball, found the venue to be in stark contrast with the state of gay rights in the country.

“It’s funny how we’re here [at the National Constitution Center] and that people are trying to write us out of the Constitution,” he said.

Seder, a doctoral student in psychology at Temple University, understands the importance of supporting Blue Ball’s cause. He works as a psychotherapist at the Mazzoni Center, which provides medical, mental-health and education services to the city’s LGBT community.

While the main event focuses on dancing, “these parties tend to be more for everyone to have a good time,” Seder said.

Blue Ball was created by volunteers in Philadelphia to fund the AIDS Library, a database for information, treatments and resources about the disease. The event has since expanded to assist all nonprofit agencies that support the gay community.

Blecher said that when Philadelphia Fight, which had been the Blue Ball’s organizer, decided to stop producing the annual fund-raiser, members of the gay community formed the Sapphire Fund. The nonprofit group is now dedicated to keeping the tradition and, more important, philanthropy of the event alive.

“We’re here to support the gay community and to stay on top of the changing needs of the community and how Blue Ball needs to change to meet those needs,” Blecher said.

About 6,000 people are expected to join the fun this weekend, and about 2,000 are expected at the main event.

“Most people are in a celebratory spirit, but it’s also friendly because it draws people from around the country, and it draws people out who normally don’t do the club scene,” Ray said. “It’s a great way to meet new people and to get reacquainted with old friends.”

Tonight at 9, Blue Ball will begin with DJ Alyson Calagna at the “ShamBlue” party at the Shampoo nightclub. The main event, “Unite!,” will return to the National Constitution Center on Saturday. DJ Tony Moran will work the turntables from 10 p.m. to dawn.

Post-parties will keep the celebration going. Revelers can head to the Cobalt event at the Pure nightclub following “Unite!” to dance to the mixes of DJ Billy Carroll. The festivities will close Sunday with DJ Lydia Prim at the “Release” party at the Trocadero Theatre from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. and with international favorite DJ Junior Vasquez at the Metallic Blue party afterwards at Transit Nightclub, which will run until 10 a.m.

In between the celebrations, the William Way Community Center will offer a screening of Gay Pioneers from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Glenn Holsten, the documentary tells the story of organized gay-rights demonstrations held from 1965 to 1969, a time when homophobia was widespread. The film includes footage from protests in Philadelphia.

Everyone is welcome at any of the events, and tickets will be sold at the door. A host pass that allows entry into “ShamBlue,” “Unite!” and “Release” also is available for $140.

Over the last 15 years, Ray said, the Blue Ball has earned cooperation and support for Philadelphia’s LGBT community from individuals and groups around the city and state.

“We hope to move in the direction of a community party and open doors to friends and supporters of the gay and lesbian community, to be a melting pot where everyone can come together.”

Contact staff writer Christine Ma

at 215-854-2553 or [email protected].

Blue Ball Schedule

Host passes can be purchased for $140 at the welcome center at the Loews Hotel, from 4 to 9 tonight and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Passes include entry to “ShamBlue,” “Unite!” and “Release” events, the Gay Pioneers screening, and a special gift bag. Individual tickets to all events are available, and can also be purchased at the events. For more information go to www.blueballphilly.com.

Tonight

ShamBlue
9 p.m. to dawn at Shampoo,
Eighth and Callowhill Streets.
Tickets: Free with host pass; $20 at door.
Phone: 215-922-7500.

Saturday

“Gay Pioneers” screening,
3 to 4 p.m. at William Way Community Center,
1315 Spruce St.
Tickets: Limited seating. Free with host pass; $10 at door.
Phone: 215-732-2220.

Unite!
10 p.m. to dawn at the National Constitution Center,
Sixth and Arch Streets.
Tickets: Free with host pass; $85 at door.
Phone: 215-409-6600.

Cobalt
After “Unite!” at Pure,
13th and St. James Streets.
Tickets: $30.
Phone: 215-735-5772.

Sunday

Release
6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Trocadero Theatre,
1003 Arch St.
Tickets: Free with host pass; $50 at door.
Phone: 215-922-5483.

Metallic Blue
After “Release” at Transit,
Sixth and Spring Garden Streets. Tickets: $25.
Phone: 215-925-8878.

Proceeds from the Blue Ball will go to the William Way Community Center, which offers programs for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community; the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights, which provides legal services and advocacy for gays and lesbians; and St. Mary’s Family Respite Center, which provides child-care services to children and families living with HIV/AIDS.

articles.philly.com/2005-01-28/entertainment/25435771_1_g…

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LuiGi Sotres posted a photo:

FT: MX | Puebla | 17U

www.flickr.com/photos/luigisotres/35933634462/

KTDRA | S

LuiGi Sotres posted a photo:

FT: MX | Puebla | 17U

www.flickr.com/photos/luigisotres/36057580836/