(EDGE) "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 9 winner Sasha Velour and 30 iconic drag queens and kings will be on hand to perform for an evening benefiting the homeless LGBTQ youth of the Ali Forney Center.
The evening, which will take place at the Highline Ballroom in New York City on Thursday evening Sept. 7, hopes to raise $50,000 to support the Ali Forney Center's (AFC) housing and supportive services for homeless LGBTQ youth. AFC, which sees over 1,400 homeless youth each year, is the nation's largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated serving this population.
This one-night-only benefit performance serves as the official launch of "DRAGS," a coffee table book featuring full-length black-and-white portraits of NYC drag legends photographed by veteran photographer and director Gregory Kramer. Kramer, who is the mastermind behind the book and event, has committed 100% of the proceeds of the book sales to benefit the young people who come to AFC for help.
"I am humbled by the love and care Gregory and every person involved with this very special project has offered us" said Carl Siciliano, AFC's Executive Director. "The young people we see at our shelters and Drop-in Center have experienced hate and rejection from the people who are supposed to love them unconditionally, it means so much to us that so many are lending their time, resources, and talent to do something to show them they are valued and loved."
"'DRAGS' celebrates a community of incredibly talented artists who express their individuality and personal identity through performance and style," said Gregory Kramer, "DRAGS" producer and photographer. "The project was conceived as an opportunity to benefit an LGBTQ organization, and everyone involved signed on without hesitation to support the Ali Forney Center. Our participants felt strongly about using their creativity on behalf of AFC's important work with homeless LGBTQ youth who are rejected by their families because of their identity. We stand together as a community to find creative ways to support each other."
