Despite
a
violent
thunderstorm
on
the
evening
of
Aug.
2,
more
than
150
people
set
aside
partisan
squabbles
to
raise
money
for
the
Human
Rights
Campaign.
Organizers
call
the
first
Purple
Party
—
where
“red”
and
“blue”
politicos
came
together
—
a
success,
despite
the
inclement
weather
that
likely
kept
some
elected
officials
away.
“Even
with
the
bad
weather,
we
had
good
turnout,”
says
Charlie
Stadtlander,
a
Purple
Party
organizer.
“We
had
a
161
people.
We’re
definitely
going
to
do
it
again
next
year.”
Stadtlander
said
the
party
was
successful
in
bringing
together
political
operatives
from
both
parties
to
socialize
and
raise
money
for
HRC,
the
nation’s
largest
gay
political
group.
The
bachelor
and
bachelorette
auction
served
as
the
main
attraction
for
the
event,
with
women
contenders
finding
a
much
stronger
reception
in
the
lesbian-heavy
crowd.
Among
the
top
money
raisers
were
Kim
DeSarno,
who
wowed
the
crowd
by
dancing,
and
Atlanta
Police
Department
LGBT
Liaison
Darlene
Harris.
Each
raised
more
than
$300.
Stadtlander
said
the
auction,
admission
fee
and
other
donations
at
the
party
raised
just
under
$6,000,
meeting
the
$5,000
to
$10,000
goal.
Plans
are
already
beginning
for
next
year’s
party.
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