When you hear the phrase “code red,” what do you think of? A majority of people you ask will say “emergency” or “danger,” but if you are any way familiar with Philadelphia nightlife, you think of the city’s annual charity event to raise money for their local HIV organizations.
Held this weekend, Sunday December 3rd at the TLA, Code:RED, founded and co-produced by Philadelphia-based performer Michael Tambon (aka Cherry Pop) and fellow producer (and karaoke co-host extraordinaire) Brandon Robert, is hitting it’s 5th anniversary this year and is going to be bigger, and better than ever. This year’s special guest is RuPaul’s Drag Race fan-favorite Ongina, who bravely announced her status on-air during season one of the television phenomenon.
Since the inaugural event in 2013, Code: RED had raised over $32,000 for local Philadelphia HIV organizations AIDS Fund and the Mazzoni Center. Each year, Philadelphia’s best in drag, music, dance and nightlife entertainment donate their time to help make this annual event bigger and better than the year before.
Not only is Code:RED an important night in Philadelphia, it also is a chance for raising awareness about the prevention, treatment and testing of HIV infection. Both Cherry Pop and Brandon Robert use this as a platform to bring the community together for a night of entertainment, and to also shatter the stigma surrounding the virus and show that there is life after diagnosis.
When: Sunday, December 3rd at 6:30pm.
Where: Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St, Philadephia.
Tickets available online via Livenation or at the door, and online donations for those unable to attend will be announced at a later date.
Jenn Witek is our East Coast photographer, and self-proclaimed Philadelphia nightlife correspondent. She is house photographer and babysitter at HEAT Bar and Nightclub in Wilkes-Barre, PA. When Jenn isn’t zipping up performers’ costumes or grabbing cocktails for them, she’s usually in bed watching Netflix or driving to god-only-knows-where to stalk Iris Spectre. Her spirit animal is a mix between Ron Swanson and Dorothy Zbornak, and when she dies, she wants her ashes spread around Walt Disney World.
