Gery Keszler

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Gery Keszler (2009)
Keszler (l.) With Hollywood star Sharon Stone (r.); 2007

Gerald "Gery" Keszler (born July 27, 1963 in Mödling , Lower Austria ) is an Austrian manager and former make-up artist . He became known as one of the founders and longstanding organizer of the Life Ball , the largest charity event for the benefit of people infected with HIV and those suffering from AIDS .

Live and act

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Keszler attended elementary school in Brunn am Gebirge and in 1973 switched to the integrated comprehensive school there . From 1977 he attended the precision mechanics department at the HTL in Mödling . He worked for an optics company for six months in his learned profession, went to Australia in 1983 and earned his living as an opal prospector and circus cook, among other things. He then traveled on through Southeast Asia and gained spiritual experience.

In Australia, he contracted HIV at the age of 20, which he made public during his opening speech at the Life Ball 2015.

When he returned to Austria , he trained as a make-up artist in the mid-1980s , was a co-founder of “Die Agentur” and, in 1987, relocated to Paris . There he subsequently worked for French media such as “ Vogue ”, “Dépêche mode” or “ Marie Claire ” and international designers such as Thierry Mugler , Vivienne Westwood and Jean-Paul Gaultier as a make-up artist .

In 1992 the idea for the Life Ball matured and he founded the association “Aids Life” with Torgom Petrosian . The main goal of the association is to raise funds to support HIV- positive people and people suffering from AIDS . In 1993 the first Life Ball took place in the Vienna City Hall , which Keszler financed out of his own pocket. The success of this event prompted him to return to Vienna for good in 1995. For several years now, he has been professionally dedicated exclusively to the diverse tasks of the Life Ball , which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2002 and is still producing new record results every year. Many world stars and designers put themselves in the service of the cause free of charge, and the set designer Stefan Riedl also worked as a long-time co-designer of the ball's equipment .

In July 2007, the FPÖ- related weekly newspaper “Zur Zeit” published an article entitled Die Homoletten-Victim-Lie , in which Keszler was described as a “professional fagot ”. Keszler sued the author for insult. He defended himself by stating that Keszler is "someone who constantly displays his gender orientation like a title of nobility". In the first instance, the author was acquitted, as the designation was undoubtedly an abuse and the entire article was "written badly against homosexuals", but "too little offensive to override freedom of expression". Keszler appealed and started the Life Ball 2008, also International Day Against Homophobia , an ironic campaign against homophobia . On the website www.berufsschwuchtel.org, over 100 prominent Austrians presented themselves with professional fagot T-shirts, including the etiquette expert Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer . Sharon Stone said at the Life Ball opening that Keszler was not a “business fagot” for her and demonstratively sprayed a crossed circle on his T-shirt.

In addition to Gery Keszler, the founding persons of the Life Ball included Chris Lohner , Alfons Haider , Benimm-Pope Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer and artists. The former SPÖ boss and mayor of the time, Helmut Zilk , supported the project from the start - despite numerous hostilities.

Keszler brought international and national stars like Bill Clinton , Elton John , Katy Perry , Whoopi Goldberg , Naomi Campbell , Pamela Anderson , Liza Minnelli , Anna Netrebko , Kylie Minogue , Heidi Klum , Falco , Cyndi Lauper , Sharon Stone , Nena , Charlize Theron , Antonio Banderas , DJ Ötzi , Nina Hagen , Alice Merton , Brigitte Nielsen , Dita von Teese , Brooke Shields , Lisa Stansfield , Christina Perri , Conchita Wurst , Thomas Gottschalk , Lotte Tobisch , Caitlyn Jenner , Verona Pooth , Eva Longoria , Hans Krankl , Dagmar Koller , Anastacia , and many more about the Life Ball.

In the summer of 2008, Gery Keszler was one of four candidates in the ORF show “ Die Überflieger ”.

In 2016 he took part - together with professional dancer Alexandra Scheriau - in the ORF dance show Dancing Stars .

The Life Ball did not take place in 2016, but has been held annually as usual since 2017. In 2019 Gery Keszler announced that - due to a lack of money, support and sponsors - the last Life Ball would take place this year. On the part of the City of Vienna , Keszler's life's work - the commitment to more equality, tolerance and determination in the fight against AIDS and HIV - was recognized.

Awards

In 2003 he was named Communicator of the Year by the Public Relations Association Austria (PRVA). The laudation in the Ringturm was given by the SPÖ politician and former mayor Helmut Zilk , one of Keszler's first supporters.

At Danube University Krems , he was the sponsor of the 2nd year (2001–2003) of the PR and Integrated Communication course .

On September 20, 2006, he was awarded the Golden Medal of Merit of the State of Vienna for his commitment and moral courage . The laudation was given by the SPÖ City Councilor for Health, Renate Brauner . The Hietzinger ÖVP - Provincial Walter hit protested in an email to the Councilor against this award, calling it a "catastrophe" and the Social Democratic Party as "protector of otherness".

Because Gery Keszler "standard-setting in tolerance and humanity," was to him during the 16th Life Ball 17 May 2008 Golden Decoration of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria by Claudia Schmied , SPÖ Federal Minister for Education, Arts and Culture presented.

In 2011 Gery Keszler was named Fundraiser of the Year by the Austrian Fundraising Association . In September 2012, Keszler was awarded the ReD Award by the Governing Mayor of Berlin, the SPD politician Klaus Wowereit . In October 2012 he was presented with the HOPE Award presented by laudator Ben Becker. The presentation of the HOPE Award is the highlight of the annual HOPE Gala in Dresden.

In 2014 Keszler received the League of Gentlemen Award at the First Ladies Luncheon in New York.

Web links

Commons : Gery Keszler  - collection of images, videos and audio files

swell

  1. ↑ Keszler feels a “big yes” to the Life Ball. May 17, 2015, accessed on May 20, 2019 .
  2. ↑ Dimitrij Grieb: The Homolet Victim Lied , Zur Zeit, No. 29–30 / 2007, July 20–2. August 2007
  3. ↑ Petra Stuiber: "I feel that is a coward" - Interview with Gery Keszler, derstandard.at & print edition, February 14, 2008
  4. ^ "Professional fagot" for Viennese court covered by freedom of expression , vienna.at, January 15, 2008
  5. ↑ Judgment: FPÖ politician can call Gery Keszler a “professional fagot” , rainbow.at, January 16, 2008
  6. ↑ Thomas Rottenberg: Heterosexuelle “Berufsschwuchteln” , derstandard.at, May 16, 2008; Print edition, 3rd / 4th May 2008
  7. ↑ End for the Life Ball: Disappointed reactions. May 10, 2019, accessed May 20, 2019 .
  8. ↑ Flashback: The Story of the Life Ball. June 9, 2017, accessed May 20, 2019 .
  9. ↑ A look back at 20 years of Life Ball. May 17, 2012, accessed on May 20, 2019 .
  10. ↑ Keszler announces the end of Life Ball. May 10, 2019, accessed May 20, 2019 .
  11. ↑ Life Ball leads "over the rainbow". May 20, 2019, accessed May 20, 2019 .
  12. ↑ prva.at ( Memento of the original from October 3, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. : Gery Keszler - Communicator of the Year , April 22, 2003  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.prva.at
  13. ↑ http://www.donau-uni.ac.at/ijz/prik : PR and Integrated Communication, Communications MSc - course sponsors , status May 24, 2008
  14. ↑ wien.gv.at - City Hall correspondence : Honor for Life Ball organizer Gery Keszler , September 20, 2006
  15. ↑ rainbow.or.at : VP District Council speaks of “catastrophe” in connection with Gery Keszler honor , September 20, 2006
  16. ↑ Kosmos Life Ball: The Aliens ' Punk , Die Presse, May 17, 2008
personal data
SURNAME Keszler, Gery
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Keszler, Gerald
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian life ball organizer
DATE OF BIRTH July 27, 1963
PLACE OF BIRTH Mödling