The threat of rain did not deter men from donning some form of red dress in celebration of West Hollywood’s Inaugural Red Dress Party Day 2022 this Sunday evening. From over-the-top frocks to slinky mini dresses, there was lots to see on Santa Monica Boulevard in WeHo’s Rainbow District as party goers hopped from bar to bar.
It was all about seeing and being seen for a good cause. Businesses partnered with the Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in an effort to bring visibility to HIV and AIDS by creating a set day for the community to celebrate life and bring awareness that HIV infections. The event serves as a fundraiser for non-profit organizations like Being Alive and The LA Life Group.
Red Dress Party Day 2022 – Photo by Mike Pingel for WEHO TIMES
Red Dress Party Day 2022 – Photo by Mike Pingel for WEHO TIMESIt all began at Micky’s WeHo where Gert Crawford and Glen Alen worked the Red Carpet where they welcomed guests like the Mayor of West Hollywood, Lauren Meister, Jamie Baker, the Executive Director of Being Alive LA, Sunnie Rose Berger – Executive Director, The Life Group LA. Jan Foster from the TV Show My Weho World filmed guests being interviewed while they worked their red getup on the Red Carpet.
Red Dress Party Day 2022 – Photo by Mike Pingel for WEHO TIMES
Red Dress Party Day 2022 – Photo by Mike Pingel for WEHO TIMESMost of the bars were in on the celebration (sans The Abbey Food & Bar for whatever reason). Trunks WeHo held a raffle, featured go-go dancers and offered Tito’s drink specials; Fiesta Cantina hosted their Red Dress Party with a game of Bingo; Gym Sportsbar held a Quilt for Life Red Ribbon fundraiser and offered raffle prizes; Stache WeHo hosted a “Red Wigs and Waffles” Best Red Hat Contest, featuring live performances and Tito’s drink specials; Motherlode kept the red dress party going with more drink specials, Revolver Video Bar hosted a “Messy Red Dress” Contest; Hi Tops had drink specials; The Bayou participated with a Happy Hour; Beaches held a “Red Dress Runway” contest; and Rocco’s WeHo hosted a Red Dress Rocc-ettes Brunch along with more Tito’s specials.
Red Dress Party Day 2022 – Photo by Mike Pingel for WEHO TIMES
Red Dress Party Day 2022 – Photo by Mike Pingel for WEHO TIMES
Red Dress Party Day 2022 – Photo by Mike Pingel for WEHO TIMESPhotos by Mike Pingel for WEHO TIMES (click to enlarge).
The inaugural Red Dress Party Day was well attended despite the gloomy day and a 50% chance of rain in the forecast. It is not yet clear how much money was raised as of the publishing of this piece.
The Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are committed to social activism, social service and spiritual development. Moreover, the mission of Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is to strengthen its community through drag activism, by raising much-needed funds for community charities, and by bringing about a better understanding of gay spirituality.
Red Dress Party Day 2022 – Photo by Mike Pingel for WEHO TIMESThe first Red Dress Party Day was held at Gold Coast Bar in 1997, with proceeds supporting HIV and AIDS community organizations. The initial event at Gold Coast Bar proved to be impactful, and the event was held annually for 23 years, generating community awareness for HIV and AIDS and providing much-needed support and funds for organizations devoted to this cause. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic (and the closure of Gold Coast Bar), the Red Dress Party Day did not take place in 2020. Trunks Bar and Micky’s WeHo hosted a joint event last year on November 14, 2021.
As part of the co-sponsorship for this year’s event, Los Angeles Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence requested that the City of West Hollywood support it with communications. The City will utilize all appropriate communication tools to promote the event, such as the City’s website and social media tools and will authorize use of the City name and logo on invitations, programs, and other collateral materials.
I must confess, it’s getting tiring seeing Lauren Meister’s smiling mug at every single photo–op. Doesn’t this woman have a job, or a life that isn’t literally twenty-four seven, 100% of the time involved around a City? Does she ever leave the city, go to the beach, decide to just take a walk across the border? It’s not healthy, and it’s not normal.
Good Morning… My agency was one of the benefiting HIV/AIDS organizations of the Red Dress Day event. It was wonderful and amazing in every way. I was going from business to business to thank everyone involved and saw Mayor Meister walking down the street. I asked her if she would take a photo with me. It was not like she came up and said take my photo. And then the photographers asked her to photo with Gert and Glen. She was kind, gracious and did. She is West Hollywood’s Mayor, and unlike most Mayors, she walks her community streets, supports… Read more »
My God, that IS her job. She’s the mayor, for Chrissake. That position includes representing the City and attending local events, like fundraisers (this was a fundraiser), ribbon cuttings, marches and protests, etc.. It is more of a time-suck than most people even realize. I believe that is part of the reason they evenly rotate the position. She’s not 24/7. She happens to have a life, and a job, outside of City government.
Randy, if you read the comment by SRB, she didn’t attend the event. She was just walking by and was pulled in to take a photo, so if what you say is true then she wasn’t doing her job.
Good Morning…. Sorry I was not more clear, she WAS there to support the fundraiser, the businesses and the people. She was walking up and down the street just as I was.