Living Off the Edge

Weise’s HIV status prevented him from gaining a work visa, so he turned to the oldest profession in history, and helped reform it. Exiled from the U.S.A. and banned for 10 years, Weise gives voice to LGBTQ rights, reminds us of how acceptance has changed over history, and provides information on immigration reform.

            Tom Weise is well-known in NYC for his community work and initiatives—helping over 20 charities, supporting children with HIV, co-founding a gay homeless youth shelter, and assisting undocumented asylum seekers—as well as his adult industry status where Weise created an escort support group assisting with health care, legal issues, finances, future planning, and other serious life circumstances.

            From growing up in postwar Germany, through a festering estrangement from his own abusive family, to the comprehension and denial of an HIV diagnosis, Weise led a double-life for fear that running the largest online gay escort site in the world would conflict with his life of advocacy.

            Weise produced/hosted/sponsored more than 250 events around the world—including Gay Pride festivals, Gay Games, gay cruises, awards shows, concerts, and media events. He created “Hustlaball” parties—a mega international circuit attracting gays with 500+ performers each from the world of porn, escorting, stripping, dancing, and recording art —in NYC, LA, San Francisco, Las Vegas, London, and Berlin.

            After his ban from the United States, Weise now dares to work for change.