Fabulous summer swimwear, fierce models and a friendly fashion show has become a beloved LGBTQ community tradition that helps to keep the AIDS Food Store, Long Beach up and running.
Local gay bar The Silver Fox will be hosting its annual fashion show and fundraiser for the 15th year, where residents will strut down a runway showing off this year’s styles of swimwear, underwear and T-shirts. Attendees will be able to vote (through rowdy applause) for their favorite model, purchase various clothing pieces and enter raffles for a number of prizes.
Majority owner of The Silver Fox, John Barnes was part of the team that created the fashion show. He’s worked at the bar in nearly every position during his 40-year tenure and could not recall the exact conversation that prompted the first show, but told the Signal Tribune, “I’m sure it happened over a cocktail.”
The Silver Fox used to host fashion shows in the late ‘80s shortly after opening. During the AIDS epidemic in the ‘80s, when over 100,000 people died from the disease according to the Center for Disease Control, places like The Silver Fox became a safe haven for the LGBTQ community to mourn, celebrate and support one another.
“It was not easy to be gay in the ‘80s. Most people weren’t out,” Barnes said. “When you walked into a gay bar it was kind of a sign of strength … It was a difficult time, it was the beginning of HIV and coming to gay bars was a kind of rite of passage.”
John Newell, who has helped run the AIDS Food Store (AFS) in Long Beach for almost 18 years, joined the store for similar reasons. After his partner passed away from HIV in 2000, he wanted to help those who are going through the same experience.
“I’ve always wanted to find a way to give back to the community and help and make sure that people have the food and the necessities that they need to continue to live a healthy, vibrant lifestyle,” Newell said.
Long Beach’s AFS was established in 1985, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, to support the growing needs of the LGBTQ community. The store operated out of Christ Chapel Church in East Long Beach until about six years ago when they relocated to a spot on Willow Street and Atlantic Avenue.
“When we started the food store in ‘85, our clients were living short-term, sometimes three to six months … Now with advancements in medication, we’re seeing our clients for much longer.
-John Newell, longtime worker for AIDS Food Store, Long Beach
Newell was on the board of directors with AFS when the fashion show started, and has helped host it every year since then.
“At first we were nervous and a little unsure about how it would be received, if people would come,” Newell said. “That first year we were just blown away with the success of it.”
Newell explained that food insecurity worsened for people in the community during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. AFS currently serves 250-300 people a month, all of whom have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
“When we started the food store in ‘85, our clients were living short-term, sometimes three to six months,” Newell said. “Now with advancements in medication, we’re seeing our clients for much longer. Some of them have medical issues where they’re just not able to work and coming to AFS they know they can get healthy, delicious food and not need to worry about it.”
AFS prides itself in the fact that they provide fresh, healthy food for its clients with a variety of options for dietary restrictions. Each year, the fashion show raises at least $5,000 for AFS, which goes toward filling its shelves with fresh meats, vegetables, fruits, dairy products and more.
The bulk of donations will come from raffled-off prizes including a brand new beach cruiser, $200 and $500 gift cards to Best Buys, VIP tickets to the Q Film Festival and tickets to the Orange County Fair.
One of the models—made up of members of a Long Beach kickball team and last-minute participants pulled from the crowd—will be crowned the “Top Model” and receive a prize. Barnes said that models often invite their friends and families to the show, and the cheers from the crowd to decide the winner can get hotly contested.
Some models participating have become Silver Fox fashion show alums, showcasing JP Designs’ clothing year after year.
Attendees can also enjoy drag show performances.
“It’s just been a real ride at Silver Fox,” Barnes said. “I’ve seen a lot of history over the years of rights gained, acceptance gained, progress over the ‘80s and ‘90s, and so it’s a new world out there, and I’m glad I’m here to enjoy it.”
The Silver Fox fashion show will take place on Sunday, July 23 beginning at 4 p.m. Entry is free, but attendees are highly encouraged to purchase drinks, raffle tickets and other items to benefit the AIDS Food Store in Long Beach.
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