MTUG Presents Their Inaugural Telethon on Facebook & YouTube LIVE!
St. Louis, MO: From noon on Saturday, December 9th to noon on Sunday, December 10th, Metro Trans Umbrella Group (MTUG) will bring together the best of the region’s trans, queer, and allied entertainers, artists, and activists for a 24-hour Telethon- LIVE on Facebook and YouTube. This one-of-a-kind fundraising extravaganza will feature music, art, drag, dance, DJs, burlesque, magic, literary arts, interviews, and much more. Patrons will view the spectacle from the comfort of their homes as they tune in and donate online throughout the 24-hour Live Telethon. All proceeds help the Metro Trans Umbrella Group continue to provide social and emotional support for local Trans, Gender Non-Binary, and Intersex adults in the St. Louis area.
“Think ‘Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon’ but on Facebook, and centering trans and queer folx and our allies,” explains Sayer Johnson, MTUG’s Co-Founder and Executive Director. Johnson had been thinking about the infamous 45-year MDA Telethon tradition after the passing of Jerry Lewis earlier this year. “The idea for this new kind of fundraiser popped into my head,” he remarks. “I’m so grateful to this amazing team of humans who are making this idea a reality.”
The inaugural MTUG Telethon boasts a diverse line-up of entertainment that is sure to spark the interest of everyone who advocates for LGBTQ equality and visibility. Trans, Gender Non-Binary, and Intersex performers will be taking center stage on your cell phones and screens along with Queer and Cisgender allies to entertain, educate, and engage. The Telethon will feature well-known drag personas such as Dieta Pepsi, Maxi Glamour, and Rydyr; music heavy-hitters such as Paige Alyssa, Androbeat, Emily Wallace, Kristen Goodman, Celia, and Summer Osborne; burlesque powerhouses Lola van Ella and Rose Whip; killer beats from DJ Jillian of HandleBar/LEZ DANCE and DJ Mitch Marku of JJ’s Clubhouse; live painting, spoken word, magic, kids activities, and community choirs to name just a few of the people and performances in store for this massive first-time event.
Tune-in to the live stream on YouTube or via the Metro Trans Umbrella Group Facebook page starting at noon on Saturday, December 9th, 2017. MTUG hopes to raise $10,000 by the end of the Telethon at noon on Sunday, December 10th. To help them reach this goal, donate online at stlmetrotrans.com or on Facebook during the live 24-hour broadcast. “If every person who believes in a better life for all people in St. Louis- regardless of gender- can make even a small donation that day, we will smash our goal,” states Johnson. “I’m looking forward to seeing this amazing community stand strong and united in support of the entire gender spectrum. See you LIVE on December 9th!”
MTUG was founded in 2013 to bring together the community of trans, gender queer, androgynous, and intersex people and their allies in the St. Louis metro region through visibility, advocacy, and education. For more info, visit stlmetrotrans.com.
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ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2017
12:00pm: Welcome and Official Launch
1:00pm: Live music from Jen Norman
2:00pm: Live concert by the MCCGSL Choir
3:00pm: Live music from Emily Wallace
4:00pm: Kid-Friendly music from Celia, plus an appearance by Celia’s Yuletide Express
5:00pm: Live painting from Alex Johnmeyer and live music from Kelsey Lee Evans
6:00pm: Live music from Paige Alyssa
7:00pm: Live music from Summer Osborne
8:00pm: TBA
9:00pm: St. Louis Lady Arm Wrestlers
10:00pm: Drag and Dance featuring Dieta Pepsi, Maxi Glamour, and other special guests
11:00pm: Karaoke Request Line with Kristen Goodman and friends
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2017
12:00am: Magic by Zi the Mentalist
1:00am: Burlesque featuring Lola van Ella, Rose Whip, Chi Chi Buxuom, Liberty Belle, and friends
2:00am: DJ Jillian and go-go dancers
3:00am: Drag Show with Rydyr and friends
4:00am: DJ Mitch Marku and go-go dancers
5:00am: Yoga Sun Salutations for All Ages with Dan Stewart of SAGE of Promo Fund
6:00am: Coffee Talk with Dieta Pepsi, LadyAshley Gregory, Sayer Johnson, and friends
7:00am: DIY Craft Time with Valerie Cangro-Eckhart
8:00am: Storytime with Willow Rosen
9:00am: TBA
10:00am: Spoken Word from Joss Barton and other special guests
11:00am: CHARIS Women’s Choir and Finale Celebration
Artists and time slots subject to change