“January 5th marked my 50th birthday. I wanted to do something to give back to the community. How wonderful, I thought, to use my talents to raise awareness to the plight of children in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) Community.
By visiting the TrueColors Fund website, I found a way to celebrate the first half-century of my life by continuing to expand my understand of the equality issues facing LGBTQ people; especially children. As cliche as it may read, they are our future. It is my hope to work to help prevent and end homelessness among LGBTQ youth.
My best friend, Todd Van Hackett. was a gay man in a time when it was extremely difficult to come out. Sadly, Todd died too young to see the progress made over the last nearly 25-years since his passing. While a great deal of success has been achieved, there is so much more to accomplish.
A growing body of research shows that up to 40% of the 1.6 million youth who experience homelessness each year identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. The most commonly cited reason for these young people leaving their homes is family rejection. The goal is to get these numbers to decrease.
To work towards this goal, I am staging a benefit performance TONIGHT – January 16th, 2016 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, for the Wanda Alston Foundation to help them provide shelter and support for Washington DC’s LGBTQ Youth.
However, I can’t do this without you. I need your support. Your donations will help with mentoring programs, helping the LGBTQ youth prepare for life as an adult with the potential of going to college, your donations will help the house be an enriching environment for all. Together, we can directly impact the lives of LGBTQ youth and the communities in which they live. My goal is to raise $10,000 to benefit Wanda Alston Foundation in the year 2016. Please join me in not only in celebrating my birthday, but donating to this worthy endeavor and spread awareness and halt this ever growing amount of sadness in our LGBTQ youth.
What do you get? I’m so glad you asked. We are going to PARTY LIKE IT’S 1966! There will be food, drinks, a show with some of my bests in the DC theatre community and the best part dancing! There are three different options to ensure that you have a great time while your donations support a great cause.”
Sprenger Theatre @ Atlas Performing Arts
1333 H Street NE, Washington DC
