Kicking off in 1985, the legendary White Party Miami has always been one the biggest social events and charity events of the year in Miami, Florida, serving as a massive fundraiser for HIV/AIDS, raising tens of millions of dollars for this worthwhile charity. The year however, the lights will not be going up for this always “must attend” social event of the Miami Beach season; the White Party is officially cancelled.
Jonathan Welsh, Associate Director of Development and Communications at Care Resource.broke the news exclusively on the South Florida based talk show “It’s Happening Out”. The conversation about the White Party starts at about 8:45 into the following video. Welsh mentioned that “the changes has been very visible and the change has been very obvious” in regards to the White Party. Morphing the event from a circuit party to more of an occasion for all members of the LGBTQ community changed the party, and now, Care Resources is “further defining” their mission to help HIV/AIDS patients.
With the change to The White Party last year, many saw the change in tone and image as a moment where the party might possibly be pivoting off of the circuit festival calendar onto a more elevated charity affair. (Last year’s advertising and messaging was very clear as well: it was an “elegant affair” and was held at the sumptuous Vizcaya Museum And Gardens).
The official statement from the White Party Facebook states in part; “this year and together with our partners and in place of The White Party, The United 4 Care health fair in Historic Overtown will further leverage existing community resources, programs, and local expertise in order to reduce the gaps in access and retention to HIV care. More information about the next The White Party fundraiser will coincide with the grand-opening of Care Resource’s expanded Midtown Miami Primary Health Center, located at 3510 Biscayne Boulevard in the heart of Miami-Dade County”.
Could the last sentence indicate that the White Party be could be returning? Possibly. Welsh further indicated that in 2020 the event could make a return.
For more info on The White Party: https://whiteparty.org
Photos Courtesy of White Party FB Page