AFAN will recognize community leaders and advocate with the “Right to Wear Red” for their outstanding efforts in support of AFAN’s mission.
Aid for AIDS of Nevada’s Black & White Party will mark 40 years as it returns to Kaos Nightclub at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 7-11 p.m. The milestone celebration will feature performances, DJ sets and a lineup of Las Vegas entertainers. Returning hosts Freddy Godinez and Alexander Stabler of Fredric Alexander will introduce this year’s performers.
The entertainers include Piranha Nightclub, Gipsy Nightclub, The Phoenix, “Taste the Show!,” Dale Blackheart Production and the cast of “Monday Mania,” DJ Lexto, Luxor headliners “Fantasy,” Mandalay Bay headliners Jennifer Romas and “Sexxy the Show,” Melody Sweets, Morgan McMichaels (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”), Nicky Saturn and “Vegas! The Show.” (Scarlett Business is in the main photo.)
Larry Edwards, aka Hot Chocolate, will appear dressed as a living ruby in honor of the anniversary. In between performances, guests can enjoy photo opps and complimentary food and beverage samplings. Guests are encouraged to dress in as much black and white as they like, or as little as they can get away with in public, with a touch of ruby accessories marking the milestone year.
“Forty years ago, this party started with a simple ask – bring a canned good item,” said AFAN Executive Director Antioco Carrillo. “Now, the Black & White Party fills a nightclub with hundreds of people who show up for one another, and that same spirit of chosen family is exactly what will carry AFAN into its next 40 years.”
AFAN will also recognize community leaders and advocate with the “Right to Wear Red” for their outstanding efforts in support of AFAN’s mission. Honorees will be granted the right to wear red in a sea of black and white, standing out as a visual tribute to their contributions to the community.
This year’s honorees: Brett Pruneau, entertainer; Christopher Melton, Las Vegas Sands; Collin Martin, Piranha and Gipsy; Heather Smith, Gilead; Jennifer Romas, “Sexxy the Show”; Jessica Beesley, Breakthru Beverage Group; Maria Montes-Mendoza, Las Vegas TGA Planning Council; Randee Stewart, Las Vegas Men’s Chorus; Sean VanGorder, advocate; and Tina Yan, former AFAN Board President.
During the late 1980s in the height of the AIDS crisis, a group of friends turned a birthday party at a Henderson apartment into an impromptu fundraiser for AFAN’s food pantry, asking guests to bring a can of food instead of gifts. About 25 people showed up, and the food collected, mostly generic canned goods with black-and-white labels, the inspiration for the party’s name, filled the back seats of a few cars.
Nearly four decades later, the Black & White Party draws thousands of guests and has grown into one of Las Vegas’ largest fundraising events. VIP Reception begins at 7 p.m. for VIP, VIP+ and table guests, followed by general admission at 8 p.m. inside Kaos. Tickets and more information are available at AFANLV.org.
AFAN’s 40th Annual Black & White Party is presented in collaboration with Love! Live! U=U, underscoring the importance of awareness and equitable access to HIV/AIDS resources. For more information on U=U and local resources, visit UEqualsULas.com.
About AFAN
Founded in 1984, Aid for AIDS of Nevada is the oldest AIDS service organization in Nevada. AFAN provides support services including free HIV testing, prevention education, housing assistance and medical case management to improve health outcomes and enhance quality of life for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS across Southern Nevada. More: AFANLV.org and follow AFAN on social media.
