A scholarship fund in Harlem, NY that honors the memory of openly gay former Conn. State Senator Chuck Allen is drawing gay celebrities.

That's not a surprise; towards the end of his life Allen turned a lifetime of political networking into gay activism. In 2004, when he moved to Harlem and came out, he challenged Black churches to fight for gay rights with the same fervor they had for civil rights.

Allen, who was African-American, died in February at the age of 55.

Now his scholarship fund, the Senator Chuck Allen III Scholarship Fund, has been established to help worthy high-school students of color.

Their second fundraiser is drawing high-profile gay leaders and celebrities.

Openly gay Conn. State Rep. Jason Bartlett is hoping to present a scholarship award at the Everybody Loves Chuck Harlem Week LGBT (& Peeps) Dance on Saturday, August 23rd.

Entertainment for the evening includes cable channel Logo's Big Gay Sketch Show comedian Jonny McGovern performing his newly released CD Gays Gone Wild.

And an edgy swim show will feature sexy designs by Brazilian Trunks and DontBlynk.

The scholarship fund hopes to raise money to benefit high school students of color studying accounting, law, public or urban policy in the Tri-State area.

On the net: The Sen. Chuck Allen III Scholarship Fund is at www.senatorchuckalleniiischolarship.tripod.com