How to stand out at Sunday’s Red Dress Part at Gold Coast? Not wear anything red.
There was only a smattering of Gold Coast customers who dared to show up in standard jeans and t-shirts. As the photos on the pages below illustrate, the vast majority embraced the randy color that the party, which has been held for 21 years, is all about. Even the hunky security guard (who photo is on the last page below) was willing to don a red kilt.
The event began in 1997 with a vow between two bartenders at Gold Coast, Mark Ferguson and Yves-Claude, who were both HIV positive. Their grim and yet humorous pact was that when one of them died, the other would show up at the memorial service in a red dress.
When Mark Ferguson died from HIV-related complications in 1997, Yves-Claude happened to be out of town. But, not one to renege on his promises, Yves-Claude decided to take the promise to a higher level. He decided to celebrate his friend and co-worker’s life with a party at Gold Coast at which everyone was invited to wear a red dress. Part of the proceeds from the annual event goes to charity.
