Del Shores Emcees Drag Queen World Series; Funds for Life Group LA

On May 10, comedian and writer Del Shores of "Sordid Lives" fame will serve as the emcee for the 3rd Annual Drag Queen World Series, pitting the LA Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence against the West Hollywood Cheerleaders. All funds raised with go to The Life Group LA, a group dedicated to the education, empowerment and emotional support of people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

"We are hoping to raise at least $5,000 total," said The Life Group LA Executive Director/Co-Founder Sunnie Rose Berger. "We don't charge anything for any of our programs. We have a huge volunteer base so we are able to get our money stretched as thin as possible and still present well received, high quality programs unduplicated in almost the entire U.S."

Joining Shores is his daughter, Becca Shores, who will also emcee. Justin Lanning will sing the National Anthem, and former Marine Alex Minsky will throw the first pitch. Transgender queer activist Pat Cordova-Goff will serve as this year's honorary umpire.

"Yes, I will be announcing a sporting event for a great cause -- Life Group LA!," wrote Shores on his Facebook account. "And my daughter Becca will be joining me at the microphone because she actually knows about the game, whereas I seem to report on fashion, how hot the bat boys are (how beyond HOT is my buddy Steve Siler, who will be handling those balls again as Bat Boy) and how they run!"

During the seventh inning stretch, the cheerleading troupe Cheer LA will be on hand to provides some thrilling entertainment. Food will be provided by Baby's Badass Burgers, and a raffle will be held for the $8,000 grand prize of a weekend stay for up to 16 people at the famous Harpo Marx Estate in Rancho Mirage, as well as smaller gifts to be announced.

As the website notes, tickets are only $10 in advance/ $15 at the gate, and it's a great way to support a good cause for less than a tube of lipstick!

"I'm at every single event we produce, and my favorite part is just seeing people laugh," said Berger. "In today's society people are so serious and there is so much struggle in the world, so much ugliness, that to see people come together for a great cause and laugh all day long is priceless. We have helped them to escape and see the silliness of life."

Queens Help Life Group LA

The funds raised at the Drag Queen World Series will help Life Group LA be able to present their POZ Life Weekend Seminar four times a year; three in the greater LA area and one out of town, in cities like Santa Barbara, San Diego, Las Vegas or Palm Springs.

The POZ Life Weekend Seminars are a place where compassion, education, community and love flow freely for the 30 men, women, youth and families who attend. The event is open to anyone infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, but when you enroll, you will be asked about your specific concerns or goals, so that organizers can attempt to schedule qualified presenters on that subject area.

Workshops are extremely interactive, with presenters answering questions and participants reaching out to fill the gaps with information, suggestions, support and tips. A minimum of 10 workshops are presented during each seminar weekend, dealing with HIV drug treatment options, insurance and benefits, stress, alternative therapies, gynecological manifestations of HIV, nutrition, women and HIV, medication adherence, recreational drug use, clinical trials and HIV disclosure.

Berger said that after years of success in the Los Angeles County, she is working to bring the POZ Life Weekend Seminars to other cities in need, both to educate their population of people living with HIV, and to educate the local HIV service organizations in how to better serve their clientele.

"In August our team is going to Phoenix to provide services to another community," said Berger. "Hopefully these people will send a team back to LA in October to take our facilitator training. Then I'll teach them how to coordinate workshops on their own."

Berger said that her works inspires people to make strong, informed choices about their health care, from taking yoga to learning about insurance, to dealing with HIV disclosure to partner intimacy. She welcomes all to look into their mix of contemporary and didactic programs.