VHS - Gay Bingo, 2000

Item — Box: 2

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: This collection includes organizational documents, correspondence, information and pins for political actions and events, and training materials.

Dates

2000

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research; access by appointment.

Extent

From the Collection: 2.96 Linear Feet

Additional Description

General

From description on back: It's outrageous. It's funny. It's deadly serious. It's GAY BINGO, the monthly bingo game that has becomne the premiere AIDS fundraising event in the Philadelphia region. Gay Bingo debuetd in Philadelphia in 1996 as a fundraiser for The AIDS Fund, which benefits more than 40 AIDS service organiations in the region. To date, the games have raised more than half a million dollars.

Once a month, this sell-out event at the Gershman Y fuses politics and human drama with sequins and roller blades. GAY BINGO merges the event's nine-month season into one composite evening. The program introduces the players, "Bingo Verifying Divas" (BVD), sponsors, mothers, fathers, AIDS activists and people coming into contact with the gay community for the first time.

This one-hour documentary captures the spirit of the diverse group of people that turn out each mont to find fun, friendship, and fulfillment. Among the many participants you will meet are: Chumley Singer; the host; Carlota Ttendent, a hostess known by day as Michael Byrne; The BVDs, Penny Nickels and Ida Slapster, drag queens on inline skates; and volunteers Immy and Phil Ferrara, whose son dies of AIDS four years ago. This program is made possible by Eastern Educational Network, Pensylvania Public Television Network and members of WHYY.