Jun 26, 2009  |  By: Joey DiGuglielmo  | COMMENTS     

Washington’s White Attire Affair — an annual ball where attendees wear white and raise money and awareness for HIV and AIDS — has a rich history dating back to the late ’90s but this year’s organizer, who has been involved since the event’s inception, says he’s “starting from scratch.”

“I felt that I had to tear it down and clean house,” says Abdur-Rahim Briggs, co-chair of the Al Sura Foundation, a local 501c(3) organization whose mission is to improve communication, education and awareness in the fight against HIV/AIDS among local African Americans. After a one-year hiatus — the last event was held in summer 2007 — the White Attire Affair: “The Experience” returns on July 18 from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. at 1100 First Street, S.E. Tickets are $75 ($125 VIP).

Briggs, a Washington resident, became passionate about HIV when his twin brother tested positive in 1997. The first White Attire Affair was held in 1999 in Briggs’ back yard. Attendees wore head-to-toe white as a show of solidarity.

After a few successful but small Affairs, Briggs brought a friend on board who had experience planning larger-scale events, to help the White Attire Affair grow. It did — under the leadership of Clyde Penn and the Ummah Endowment Fund, the event grew exponentially for several years requiring large venues. 

But Briggs says the event eventually lost its focus and he and Penn had ideological differences.

“It had become a little too elitist,” Briggs says. “I had a friend who had a skill set I didn’t have, but it became a different event and there were some trust issues. What had been an asset became a liability.”

Penn says he and Briggs have no hard feelings and he wishes Al Sura success.

“There’s no story there,” Penn says. “We’re absolutely supportive.”

Penn says after organizing five successful White Attire Affairs (2003 through 2007), the Ummah Endowment Fund had accomplished most of its objectives — he says studies show HIV awareness among gay and bi black men went from around 30 percent to 97 percent over that five-year span — so it was time to move on. He says Ummah’s goals were more awareness oriented while Al Sura plans to raise money for local AIDS organizations. Ummah still exists but is “retooling,” Penn says.

Some local HIV organizations, such as Us Helping Us, questioned the value of the Affair under Penn’s leadership. And attendance was down in 2007. About 2,500 attended in 2006, according to Briggs, but less than 700 attended the 2007 Affair (Penn says it was about 1,200). It will be smaller this year — capacity is 500 — but Briggs says he’s purposefully keeping it low key this year because of the hiatus and the economy.

“We’re testing the waters a bit,” he says. “And trying to organize the community. The good news is it will probably sell out. But we had to keep it small. In these economic times, there just isn’t the level of corporate giving there usually is.”

Briggs is also working on establishing a new level of accountability within Al Sura. Its web site (www.alsura.org) lists the organization’s leadership rankings and has an extensive section for frequently asked questions. Briggs is also planning to present a $25,000 check to a local AIDS organization — the beneficiary hasn’t been selected yet but Al Sura leaders have two finalists in mind — the night of the Affair.

“It will depend on ticket sales, but if it sells out, we’ll be able to do it,” Briggs says. “It’s important for us to give a check that night. People need to see where this money is going to go.”

The White Attire Affair isn’t an exclusively gay event but Briggs, who declines to give his sexual orientation, says it has “an LGBT focus” because of HIV demographics. The Affair is also targeted to the African-American community but all are welcome.

Organizers say the event will be lavish and fun. Alvin King, a local black gay man whose background is in fashion event promotion, is this year’s producer. He also produced the 2002 White Attire Affair.

“People should come expecting to be wowed,” King says. “I’ve come to represent an out-of-the-box, extravagant type of reputation and that’s how this will be.”

Guest entertainers are Sylver Logan Sharpe and Nhojj, two budding talents King is wowed by and calls “fantastic.”