August 15 to 17 was Ascension Weekend in Fire Island Pines and the main event was a dance on the beach, under the sun, beside the Atlantic Ocean, at the eastern end of the Pines, on the 17th, when hundreds of hot Pines men, some Grove guys, and some women, too, danced to music by ‘superstar’ DJ Paulo. Ascension was conceived by former Pines Pavilion owner Eric von Kuersteiner and the parties were produced by Sean Patrick Ryan.
Ascension raised funds, through Hal Rubinstein, David Nickle, and von Kuersteiner’s Fund in the Sun Foundation, for the Live Out Loud Homecoming Project, assisting LGBTQ youth; One Heartland, assisting youth with HIV/AIDS, in transitional housing, and in out-of-home programs; Standing Tall and the International Academy of Hope, a specialized school for the brain injured; Friends in Deed, the crisis center for life-threatening illness; and the Hetrick-Martin Institute, dedicated to empowerment, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ youth, and originator of the Harvey Milk School.
The other components of the weekend were an underwear party at Sip n’Twirl, a tea dance at 236 Bay Walk, and the Afterdark party at Sip n’Twirl, followed by a fireworks display over the Great South Bay.