'Party with Impact' honors work of AIDS service organization
When Conal Charles, 32, decided in 2009 to come out to his parents, he sought help from PFLAG Atlanta. Today, he’s the co-president of the organization that works to “support, educate and advocate” for LGBT people, their families and loved ones.
“I found out about PFLAG Atlanta on the web,” he says. “I was looking for ways to help come out to my parents. I was born and raised in India and my parents live in India. I ended up writing a very long email to them and then my mom called and we talked. And they are visiting me next month to go to their first PFLAG meeting.”
Charles said the help and support he received from the local chapter of PFLAG — a national organization with more than 500 chapters across the U.S. — prompted him to become actively involved. Most members are also giving back because of the help they received.
Annual fundraiser benefiting CHRIS Kids tonight at 14th Street Playhouse
A thirteen-year-old boy provided the cast and crew of Seasons of Love a living reason why they donate their time and talent to raise money for CHRIS Kids.
Since its inception, the variety cabaret has raised over $300,000 to help CHRIS Kids provide housing, counseling and support for homeless youth in Atlanta. But a chance encounter brought the immediacy of their work home to Director Mike Beecham.
“One of the first days of rehearsals, we were at a gym and across the street there was this 13-year-old kid who was new to the streets and he was asking for things to keep him warm. He had tears in his eyes as he was asking for things,” Beecham says, remembering how the boy was looking for anything to help him get through what would be one of his first nights on the street.
The photography campaign that has spawned nearly 6,000 photos of celebrities and every day people with duct tape across their mouths and “NOH8” painted on their faces began two years ago in an L.A. apartment at about 3 a.m.
Photographer Adam Bouska and his partner, Jeff Parshley, were devastated when California voters approved Prop 8, a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, in the November 2008 election. The two men felt silenced in their home state and wanted to do something to protest Prop 8.
“It was natural we come up with a plan to use photographs … this was on everyone’s mind and we were looking for ways to get involved,” Bouska said in an interview from his L.A. home as he prepares for a Jan. 16 NOH8 photo shoot in Atlanta.