Life Ball 2008

Whoever said that AIDS is not on the agenda for the current generation of gays has never experienced Europe’s impressive Life Ball, the world’s biggest AIDS charity fundraiser. Now in its 16th year and with over ¤10 million donated to AIDS-related causes since its inception, the event is held annually to much acclaim in Vienna’s Town Hall, Austria.

This year, Life Ball was space-themed and all about ‘Landing on Planet Life Ball’, a place where ‘Love is infinite’ and ‘Love is universal’. While the slogans obviously suffered in translation, they did not detract from their objective of providing inspiration, be it for costumes or donations.

Sharon Stone was again the headline guest this year, followed by lesser stars but those equally stellar in the celebrity orbit – Linda Evangelista, Kim Cattrall and Debbie Harry were among those more notable; actors like Alan Cumming, male supermodel of yesteryear Markus Schenkenberg and two plane-loads of New York fashion and nightclub elite also added to the rarefied air.

Whatever the guest list, the electricity on this balmy Saturday night was palpable. Tickets are highly sought-after by the masses – some 45,000-odd who cram the Town Hall’s front lawn and temporary grandstands to catch a glimpse of the costumes and chaos.

So popular is the event, in fact, that it’s even televised live nationally. Many of them vie for a chance at the few Willy Wonka passes on offer, but in a peculiarly gay twist, tickets are awarded only to the most fabulously dressed. And you thought Idol judges were fierce.