FROM OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE 9/11/2010
At tonight's Emery Awards in NYC, Hetrick-Martin Institute Ambassador Andy Bell will announce that Erasure - the band for which he is lead singer alongside electronic music legend Vince Clarke - will record a new version of their chart-topping classic 'A Little Respect'. Proceeds from the download of the single will benefit The Hetrick-Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk High School, and Cyndi Lauper's charity the True Colors Fund.
Originally released as a single in 1988 from the Erasure album 'The Innocents', 'A Little Respect' reached #2 on the Billboard Dance Charts and became a signature tune for the synthpop duo Erasure, as well as becoming an anthem for the gay rights movement.
The new recording of 'A Little Respect' will now include a youth chorus from The Hetrick-Martin Institute and it will be released as a download by Mute Records. A new documentary-style video, conceived by filmmaker Jason Stein of Laundry Service Media, will accompany the new recording. Both the single and video - which is intended to include cameos from high-profile supportive friends in the gay-straight community - are scheduled for release in mid-December with proceeds from the download of the music single earmarked to benefit The Hetrick-Martin Institute and the True Colors Fund.
In the wake of the tragic gay bullying incidents and related suicides across the country, Andy Bell was motivated to take action. As one of popular music's first openly-gay celebrities Bell felt compelled to get involved. "I am honored and moved beyond words to serve as an Ambassador to the The Hetrick-Martin Institute. Every opportunity we have to spread tolerance and compassion must be seized and I will take special pride in doing so on HMI's behalf."
Thomas Krever, the Executive Director of The Hetrick-Martin Institute expresses his gratitude to Andy and Vince for their generosity. "The music of Erasure was a formative part of my youth and a touchstone to feeling proud and confident as a gay man. Today's youth need to be reminded as often as possible that they are worthy of respect."
The Hetrick-Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk High School, believes all young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential. Founded in 1979, The Hetrick-Martin Institute creates this environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth between the ages of 12 and 24 and their families. Through a comprehensive package of direct services and referrals, Hetrick-Martin seeks to foster healthy youth development. Hetrick-Martin’s staff promotes excellence in the delivery of youth services and uses its expertise to create innovative programs that other organizations may use as models. For more information about HMI visit their website or follow their work on Twitter or on Facebook.
For more information about the True Colors Fund visit their website.
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