Leading lights from indie comedy and music's cutting edge, including W. Kamau Bell, Nikki Glaser, Jillette Johnson, Eliot Glazer, Mates of State, Wakey!Wakey! and more will headline UNCIVIL UNION, an all-star PRIDE Pride Week concert hosted by Carrie Keagan on June 25th benefitting The Ally Coalition, Broadway Impact, and New Alternatives for Homeless Youth.
Founded by members of the Grammy Award-winning band FUN. and designer
Rachel Antonoff, The Ally Coalition works with members of the music, fashion and entertainment worlds to raise awareness of LGBTQ equality and funding for local LGBTQ groups across the country.
"UNCIVIL UNION combines two of our favorite entertainments - music and comedy - to celebrate equality," said The Ally Coalition co-founders
Rachel Antonoff, Nate Ruess,
Jack Antonoff and
Andrew Dost. "Even better is that we can support terrific local organizations tirelessly working for equal rights."
In keeping with its mission, funds raised through UNCIVIL UNION will benefit New Alternatives For LGBT Homeless Youth, which helps homeless LGBT youth become self-sufficient and transition into stable adult lives, and Broadway Impact, a grassroots organization of theater artists and fans mobilized in support of marriage equality.
Emceed by No Good TV's
Carrie Keagan, who previously hosted VH1's Big
Morning Buzz Live, headliners include Bell (FX's Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell), Glaser (MTV's Nikki & Sara Live), indie-pop duo Mates of State, and Wakey!Wakey!, featuring lead singer Michael Grubbs (One Tree Hill).
Special highlights will include appearances by writer and comedian Eliot Glazer, creator of the hit web series It Gets Betterish and the viral videoShit New Yorkers Say, and Jillette Johnson, who will perform "Cameron," her moving ballad about a transgender friend.
More talent will be announced in the coming weeks.
"We are thrilled to be working along side these amazing organizations to bring UNCIVIL UNION to NYC PRIDE, a week of celebration and renewed commitment to the cause," said
Gavin Creel, Rory O'Malley and
Jenny Kanelos, the co-founders of Broadway Impact. "It promises to be an incredible night of music, comedy and equality."
"New Alternatives is excited to partner with the Ally Coalition on this event which will help support LGBT homeless youth in New York City," said Kate Barnhart, Executive Director of New Alternatives for LGBT Youth. "While we are busy celebrating Pride, it's easy to forget that for some LGBT youth, coming out can have dire consequences, including family rejection and homelessness. It is our responsibility as LGBT adults to take responsibility for making sure that these youth are able to ?nd safety and community."
Additional support for UNCIVIL UNION is provided by comedy network Above Average: "We're a comedy network. We've been creating videos to make you laugh since 2012. Proud members of the Broadway Video family, the people who bring you Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show
Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with
Seth Meyers, Portlandia, and more."
DETAILS:
WHAT: UNCIVIL UNION: a benefit concert for THE ALLY COALITION, New Alternatives, & Broadway Impact
WHERE:
Le Poisson Rouge - 158 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012
WHEN: Wednesday, June 25th
TIME: 8:00pm
TICKETS: $35 (General Admission); $98 (VIP*)
www.lepoissonrouge.com/lpr_events/uncivil-union-june-25th-2014/
PHONE: 212-505-3474
* The $98 VIP ticket price reflects 1998, the year
Matthew Shepard was killed.
Jason Collins, the first openly gay athlete in professional sports, has worn #98 as a tribute. A Brooklyn Nets jersey signed by
Jason Collins will be auctioned at the benefit.
About The Ally Coalition: The band FUN. and designer Rachel Antonoff have joined forces to create The Ally Coalition (TAC) with the purpose of inspiring people, in particular their peers in the music, fashion and entertainment industry, to take action for LGBTQ equality. TAC believes that it is the responsibility of allies to support LGBTQ causes and fight against discrimination through education, awareness and advocacy.
