NY FASHION WEEK

NYC Gay Bar Go-Gos For Obama With Fashionista Fundraiser

Eastern Bloc, the Lower East Side gay bar co-owned by Ben Maisani (a.k.a. the man in and occasionally out of Anderson Cooper‘s life), threw a fundraiser for Barack Obama, complete with go-go boys and fabulous fashion people.

Model Karen Elson, Paper Magazine‘s EIC Mickey Bordman, Harper’s Bazaar’s Editor-at-Large Derek Blasberg and ex-hockey player/burgeoning fashionisto Sean Avery were on the host committee for the “Go-Go for Obama” fundraiser, which had the goal of raising a respectable $20,000, attracted some 150 people.

By the time the go-gos took the pole at midnight, GG4B was halfway to its goal.

“We do these parties for gay-porn stars at Eastern Bloc whenever [they’re] in town from L.A.,” Boardman told The Washington Post. “It’s always a room of Village gays, socialites, porn stars, fashion people. We thought, ‘Why don’t we do a go-go thing at Eastern Bloc for [Obama]?’”

Despite the presence of dancers in Obama boxers and the occasional thong, the event was on the classier side of things to keep Obama/Biden organizers at ease: Gaylebrity Will Wilke noted no go-go boys were shown on the promotional flyers, lest the “Republicans… jump on it and view it as some sex party.”

Still, the only thing people could find fault with was the lack of free booze—unlike other Fashion Week parties, Go-Go for Obama couldn’t have liquor sponsors or an open bar. Alas, everyone’s gotta make a few sacrifices for progress.

Photo: Paper

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