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What’s there to party about in America today? Chad Richter from Miami’s Winter Party has an answer. “There’s a whole lot of people who aren’t interested in the whole party with a purpose kind of thing,” the gently-spoken volunteer board member says of his city’s massive benefit festival that culminates in a huge outdoor dance event in posh South Beach, Florida.

“A lot of people don’t live in really welcoming cities like we do,” Richter intones, pointing out that the Winter Party week acts as a massive oasis of gay acceptance in the Spring Break season, for LGBT people coming from all over the Southern US, and around the world.

A tireless advocate for his city and its most exuberant gay festival, Richter fondly remembers the Gay Nineties, when Miami was the centre of the homosocial universe (i.e. The Versace Era). “I grew up here during its heyday. I remember this being the city that was the best, most welcoming gay destination.” Chad is dedicated to keeping Miami at the forefront of the continent’s LGBT mega-events with a purpose, on par with Montréal’s Black & Blue, but with the major draw of being in balmy, sunny Florida during the most winter-weary times of the year.

Last year’s event surpassed the $1,000,000 fundraising mark for the Florida wing of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a massive US advocacy NGO that funnels money to cash-strapped community organizations working to combat homophobia, teen bullying, and discrimination. “Every event pass, every raffle ticket, and every drink purchased throughout the week benefits our community on both the local and national level,” says Russell Roybal, deputy ED of the Task Force. “It’s not just the world’s best LGBT celebration, it’s also a party with a purpose — a very, very important purpose.”

As a major part of their promotions this year, Richter is spear-heading a shopping night involving high-end cosmetics co. Kiehl’s, where participating merchants donate %20 of the purchase price to the Winter Party/Task Force, and a Botanical Garden Party (!), to appeal to the visiting and local gays who find the whole house-music beach circuit party a little much.

To encourage people to book early, you can get up to $100 off the Winter Party festival pass if you purchase online before Jan. 15, and the Miami veteran warns that after Jan 7^th, the hotel rates all go up, so book before, and buy some good karma with your Grey Goose vodka.

The Beach Party (Sun. March 4^th, 2012), is the “centrepiece for a reason,” Richter chimes, “where everyone has the biggest smile, and it all worked, and everything came together.” If you’re thinking about getting away for some version of spring break, imagine the sand in your toes, the boys (and girls!) in their Speedos, and all for a good cause, in North America’s most hedonistic destinations. That’s a task I’d be willing to take on

Winter Party: Miami Beach, Florida. Feb 29-March 4

www.winterparty.com