Title
Honoring and celebrating GayBINGO!, an iconic Philadelphia cultural institution and one of its most recognizable LGBTQ+ traditions and HIV fundraisers, on the occasion of its 30th
anniversary.
Body
WHEREAS, Over the past 30 years, GayBINGO! has raised an estimated $4 million for HIV-related care and prevention services, all while creating a uniquely Philadelphia blend of irreverence, joy, camp performance, and community solidarity. During its early years, the event became an instant sensation-tickets routinely sold out within minutes, with more than 600 seats disappearing in under 10 minutes for the first six years, thanks in large part to the magnetic hosting of Carlota Ttendant and Mark "Chumley" Singer; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1996 by the HIV Fund during the height of the HIV epidemic, GayBINGO! became much more than an entertainment event, evolving into a gathering place for Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community and allies, a platform for activism and awareness, and a critical source of financial support for HIV services throughout the region; and
WHEREAS, During the 1980s and early 1990s, HIV devastated LGBTQ+ and other impacted communities across the United States, including Philadelphia. Thousands of people became ill and died while many faced discrimination, social stigma, inadequate healthcare access, and political neglect; and
WHEREAS, GayBINGO! represented Philadelphia's distinctive LGBTQ+ culture; politically engaged, community-oriented, humorous, resilient, and unapologetically theatrical. For many attendees, GayBINGO! became an intergenerational space where longtime HIV activists, LGBTQ+ youth, allies, healthcare workers, and community members could gather together; and
WHEREAS, The 30th anniversary of GayBINGO! is celebrating not only its longevity, but also generations of volunteers, performers, organizers, donors, audience members, healthcare workers, and activists who sustained it over three decades, while newer audiences are discovering ...
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