Many Celebrities at the Opera Gala of the German AIDS Foundation

(Blogmensgo, gay blog of November 8, 2016) On November 5, 2016, more than 2000 guests, including celebrities from politics, the arts and industry, participated in the 23^rd Festive Opera Gala Night of the German AIDS Foundation (Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung) in the Berlin Opera. Aside from more than €450,000 for the good cause, there were two awards: Jean Paul Gaultier and Zimbabwean business man Strive Masiyiwa received a “World Without AIDS Award” for their commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Among the 2000 invited guests, there were Federal President Joachim Gauck and his companion Daniela Schadt, Klaus Wowereit and his husband Jörn Kubicki, Jean Paul Gaultier with his Audi special model (main sponsor Audi handed over a check of €310,000), Conchita Wurst, Manuel Neuer and his girlfriend Nina Weiss.

With VIP tickets selling at €1364 per person, the event reaped €450,000 in benefits, plus six-digit donations from various German companies.

The official press release did not mention whether the Zimbabwean laureate Strive Masiyiwa commented on the discriminating statements of his president Robert Mugabe who has been known to refer to gays as dogs.

Frank-S / MensGo
Main source: Press release of the Festliche Operngala der Deutschen AIDS-Stiftung, November 6, 2016.