On the twentieth anniversary of its founding; The Ali Forney Center presents the WE ARE FAMILY DANCE-A-THON an immersive fundraising experience that celebrates New York City, a place where the LGBTQ+ Community has always led and organized in such a way that they have changed the landscape of human rights history for the world to see. The event will also commemorate The Ali Forney Center’s namesake – a gender non-binary peer counselor of and advocate for homeless LGBTQ+ youth who was killed on the streets of New York City – while also supporting a new generation; just in time for the Holidays.
The WE ARE FAMILY DANCE-A-THON will take place from 11am-6pm on Trans Day of Remembrance -Sunday, November 20th at the historic Queens borough entertainment complex, the Knockdown Center (52-19 Flushing Ave, 11378) and fuse the celebratory aspect of a dance-a-thon with the very best of the NYC nightlife scene along with Queer chefs cooking up a storm to keep the troupes going.
This whirlwind of creative activity will bring attention to the LGBTQ+ homeless youth community experiencing housing and food insecurities. Participants and teams who have raised crucial funds to feed the clients of the Ali Forney Center will be present to dance the day away with NYC’s most sought-after DJs including Amber Valentine, Boyyyish, Drew Baker, Ty Sunderland, PAT, Jon Ali, The Muses and Josh Melzer.
This high-energy fundraiser will also see the stage filled with celebrated performers from Eva Reign, star of Amazon Prime’s Anything’s Possible, who alongside NYC drag artist, Marti Gould Cummings, will be the host for the day to Junior Mintt, Nicky O, Dahlia Sin, Thee Suburbia, Jason Rodriguez, Bhawk Snipes, and dance-fitness studios Forward Space and Dance Church.
New York’s top culinary offerings will also be onsite to nourish the dancers with chefs including Ursula’s Eric See, Bill Clark, Tony Ortiz, Greg Rales from Red Gate Bakery, Woldy Kusina, Andy Baraghani, Nasim Lahbichi, Will Coleman, Grossy Pelosy and Jeremy Soloman from Agi's Counter. All-the-while having helped to maintain the AFC meals program which serves more than 400,000 hot and healthy meals to its clients across 17 NYC housing sites and a 24-hour drop-in center located in Harlem.
November 20th is the annual Trans Day of Remembrance honoring the lives of trans people taken from the world due to anti-transgender violence. The WE ARE FAMILY DANCE-A-THON will uplift transgender voices and pay respect to the those lost due to violence.
“Throughout our history, LGBTQ+ people have built chosen families because so many of us have been denied family and acceptance, and sadly the same is true for the homeless young people in our care. The WE ARE FAMILY DANCE-A-THON pays honor to our roots, our chosen family, and serves to build community for our youth reminding them that they are not alone, that they are worthy of being cared for, and that they are worthy of all that family represents - acceptance, care, and love” Alex Roque, President and Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center.
Participants can attend the WE ARE FAMILY DANCE-A-THON to raise money by attending in-person or virtually. Those wanting to get involved can sign up HERE.
The day has been curated by Kevin and Steven Chorlins, the WE ARE FAMILY DANCE-A-THON co-chairs with Jase Cannon as Creative Director; Edouard Massih of Edys Grocers as head of Culinary Council; Ben Totty of Box Artist Management as Executive Producer; Nightlife impresario and AFC board member with Terence Edgerson and Ryan Farr co-producing the afternoon.
This year is AFC’s 20th anniversary. Its mission is to protect LGBTQ+ youth from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently.