Life Ball And Charlize Theron: Educating Young Women And Girls Is Key In Battle Against Aids

Life Ball, one of the world’s largest Aids charity events, is held each year in Vienna Town Hall in Vienna, Austria. There are two aspects to Life Ball: first, it is a grand showcase that seeks to raise awareness and money, help affected people and to fight against HIV/AIDS around the globe. Secondly, it is a huge party; in the words of the organizers, Life Ball is a “celebration of life.”

The organization behind Life Ball is Aids Life, an independent non-profit organization, was founded in 1992 by Life Ball mastermind Gery Keszler and Dr. Torgom Petrosian with the aim to raise funds for the much needed support of people who are HIV positive or living with AIDS. International aid in some of the worst affected countries in the world is given through the international partner organizations.  Much of the focus this year is on education of girls and young women.

Those slated to fly to Vienna began by meeting on Thursday at Out Hotel on 42nd street in Manhattan. My visual antenna was on alert, and I was not disappointed. First came the models—all around six feet tall-- who would appear in the Gaultier fashion show on Saturday. Ordinary luggage accumulated while exaggerated people gathered. Transgender actress/model Amanda Lepore gingerly stepped into the lobby in her tight gold evening gown and stiletto heels and the energy of the room intensified. Her small entourage hovered as if to be prepared to catch her if she happened to stumble. Of course, champagne was served.

Air Austria provided a chartered plane to bring performers, stylists of all sorts, musicians, drag queens, models, photographers, a few celebrities and journalists from the US. I was on this plane, a flight the reputation of which as a party plane preceded it. The highlight of all the music, dancing in the aisles, climbing on seats, and drinking was watching the transsexual actor/model Amanda Lepore perform striptease on the seats two rows in front of me with the “assistance” of Kelly Osborn. The crew of the plane was very much involved in the all the fun, each wearing bright red uniforms, their faces decorated with sparkled designs and aids red ribbons.

The morning following our arrival, there was a press conference, where we heard from, among others, founder Gery Keszler, singer Mary J Blige and actor Charlize Theron. Sean Penn was in the audience representing Bill Clinton and the Clinton Health Initiative, which partnered with Aids Life last year. Life Ball has from the beginning been about “making a loud noise” to bring about change. Mr. Keszler stated he feels there is an environment of conservatism worldwide that is risking possible backslide on the gains made in the fight against aids. This year’s Life Ball is dedicated to a close friend of Mr. Keszler’s who died this year from aids.

In private conversation, Mr. Keszler told me that “No one has to die anymore. I lost so many friends in the 90’s, but it’s horrible when it hits again. I see so many horrible situations in my travels to visit our partner organizations. But no one has to die.” He continued to tell me, “It is important for everyone to know their immune status, because it is important for not spreading the disease. Drugs are now affordable and thanks to the US, generic drugs are available (except in the US), and through our partnership with the Clinton Foundation we are able to treat millions of people. We are also able to stop the spread of disease through transmission when a child is born. In Uganda, 130,000 women are infected with aids and close to 50% will infect their child in birth. With therapy, in partnership with Clinton Health Initiative we have seen a reduction in the infection rate 14% with money from Life Ball. Education is key, of course, but education of women in Uganda is complicated and difficult because women have to ask permission to even leave the house. There’s a lot to do.”

I asked Mr. Keszler why Life Ball is not as well known in the US as it is in Europe, and he said, “Life Ball is getting more known in the US in the last two years because of key partner organizations and American designers (who participate in the fashion shows). But I must always go on the battleship again.”

Charlize Theron’s initiative, Africa Outreach, works to increase funding for the education of young women and girls in her native country, South Africa. At the press conference, she stated, “It is an honor and a privilege to participate in Life Ball. The disease has shaped my country, and right now there are 6.4 living with HIV, more than anywhere else in the world. Huge strides have been made, but clearly many are falling through the cracks, marginalized and discriminated against, and particularly young people. An aids free future is a reality. This is a window of opportunity to make a change, and I urge the world to put the pedal to the floor. We are here, making momentum and are here to celebrate life, and advocate for those who do not have a voice.“

At the First Ladies Luncheon on Saturday, hosted by the first lady of Australia, Ms.Theron spoke further about South Africa and the difficulties of treating the social disease of aids, stigma and misinformation, and the importance of women in the global economic equation. Africa Outreach seeks to educate young women and girls throughout Africa through grant-giving and spotlighting the work of community based organizations.

Later in the afternoon, we were taken to a small gathering for champagne, which soon grew to a party of over two dozen transsexual performers, men and women burlesque dancers all in one room with, of course, champagne and Red Bull of various flavors. A woman DJ in perpetual motion provided music that kept everyone moving constantly. The room was full of energy and enthusiasm; a celebration of life had begun in earnest.

This crowd, along with my press colleagues and I, were guided towards yet another red carpet. It took a while to travel in the many black cars provided for transport, because much of Vienna is shut down for the event. Crowds of observers spilled into the streets. The red carpet was loosely controlled chaos, with crowds and paparazzi lining the 10-foot wide carpet. Cameras everywhere, people wore costumes that were beyond description, and, along with press, dignitaries, government officials, and lesser known celebrities, we walked and posed on the carpet that led us to the main stage. The event was held on a huge stage with video screens in many key locations so all could see. Walking became a challenge in some areas, the crowd was so thick.

The theatrical events were loud and fantastical, involving singing, dancing, horses, wonderfully exaggerated costumes—it was mystical and surreal at the same time. And quite beautifully highlighted in gold everywhere. Mary J. Blige spoke from the heart about the importance of the event in raising awareness, and then she sang a quite moving song. Austrian pop singer and drag queen Conchita Wurst performed twice to an overjoyed crowd.Video was shown of Bill Clinton, saying he was sorry not to be able to come (he was there last year), as did Prince Harry. Sean Penn spoke passionately about the need to continue raising global awareness for combatting the disease of aids and cultural stigma . There was a Jean Paul Gaultier fashion show that showcased his clothing worn by classic models and as well as ordinary people. A steady offering of champagne was served by women who roved the stands with bottles and plastic glasses at the ready.

Once the show ended around midnight, there was dancing into the night in the vast Town Hall venue with many different bars, tall exotic plants, dramatic lighting and stages of various sorts.

At the airport the next day, we gathered to climb aboard the Life Ball plane. Many appeared to be exhausted, if not hung over, from the champagne and exuberance of the last twenty four hours. Waiting in line the next day to check in for our chartered plane, I chatted with Paula Abdul. She had walked the runway red carpet and laughed as she told me how wonderful it was that the cameras had made her legs look just as long as one of the models. No matter who you were or what you looked like, Life Ball made everyone feel okay, feel happy to be alive.

Finding my seat, I struck up a conversation with the man next to me as the plane took off. I thought I recognized him as someone who had been costumed the night before, and he was. I don’t remember his “real” name, but he is a professional burlesque performer named “James and the Giant Pastey.” When he heard I was a New Yorker cartoonist, he pulled from his bag two copies of the magazine and joyful admitted he was catching up on his New Yorkers. I shared with him my musings about the relationship between cartoons and what I had been seeing all weekend—both about exaggeration of real life and performance. He saw a connection, and went on to confide with me that for him, burlesque is like poetry. In some ways, so are cartoons.

As we continued in search of a connection between our respective worlds, “James” confided that as someone who is comfortable being almost naked on stage, the idea of trying to make someone laugh absolutely terrifies him.  We both happily survived Life Ball.