Big Gay Out

Last updated

Big Gay Out
Big Gay Out 2011.jpg
Charles Chauvel and Grant Robertson at the Big Gay Out 2011
StatusActive
GenreFestivals
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s) Coyle Park
Country New Zealand
Years active2000 - Present
Inaugurated20 February 2000 (2000-02-20)
FounderHero Festival Big Gay Out
Most recent12 March 2023
Attendance10,000 - 15,000
Organised by Hero Festival (2000 - 2002)
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa (2003 - Present)
Sponsor Durex
Website https://www.biggayout.co.nz/

Big Gay Out is an LGBTQ festival in Aotearoa/New Zealand. It has been running in Auckland, New Zealand since 2000. The event was founded by the Hero Festival, but is now organised by the Burnett Foundation Aotearoa. [1]

Contents

During the event, Mr Gay New Zealand is chosen. [2]

History

The Big Gay Out was initiated by organisers of the Hero Festival, and was a play on words mimicking the music festival; Big Day Out. The event is always held at Coyle Park, in Point Chevalier. Organisers of the event stated that its location was intended to get back at former mayor Les Mills, who resided nearby and had a history of opposing pride events. [1]

In 2003, leadership of the event passed from the Hero Festival to the NZ AIDS Foundation (now known as the Burnett Foundation Aotearoa). Since the changeover, the event has been used to promote HIV awareness and STI testing. [1]

Several hundred people were in attendance at the first Big Gay Out in 2000. [1] This figure has since increased to between 12,000-15,000 attendees. [3]

Political Influence

The Big Gay Out has always attracted political attention, with protests being common in the early years from fundamentalist Christian groups. [1]

In 2004, whilst the New Zealand Government were considering introducing the Civil Unions Act, the Big Gay Out hosted a commitment ceremony where six gay couples exchanged rings. Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard attended the Big Gay Out in 2005 and apologized for his past criticism of the civil union reforms. [1]

In 2016, Prime Minister John Key made his annual appearance at the Big Gay Out, but was booed off stage by anti-Trans Pacific Partnership protesters. Despite the group of roughly 30 protesters, John Key received positive feedback for his attendance at the festival. [4]

Postponements and Cancellations

Members of the New Zealand Labour Party speaking at the 2020 Big Gay Out. Labour Party at Big Gay Out 20200209.jpg
Members of the New Zealand Labour Party speaking at the 2020 Big Gay Out.

The 2018 Big Gay Out (scheduled for 11 February 2018) was cancelled due to severe weather conditions. This was the first cancellation in the history of the event. [5]

Part-way through the Big Gay Out 2021, it was announced that three cases of COVID-19 had emerged in South Auckland. [6] Mayor Phil Goff learned of the outbreak on his way to the event, but was advised that the event could continue. [7] The following day, Auckland went into a three day lockdown. [8]

On the 19th of January 2022, it was announced that for the second time in Big Gay Out history, the event would be cancelled. This was due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. [9]

The Big Gay Out 2023 was postponed until 12 March due to flooding damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. [10]

Headlining Acts and Attendance

YearDatesAttendanceHeadlinersAdditional Notes
2000February 2000 [11] "a couple of hundred" [10]
  • The Outrageous Miss Ribena [10]
2001UnknownUnknownUnknown
2002UnknownUnknownUnknown
200316 February 2003 [12] 8,000 - 10,000 [12] Unknown
20048 February 2004 [13] 10,000 [13] Unknown
2005UnknownUnknownUnknown
200613 February 2006 [14] Unknown
200711 February 2007 [16] 12,000 [16]
200810 February 2008 [18] 6,000 - 7,000 [18]
  • Miss Buckwheat
  • Cindy of Samoa
  • Pulse [19]
Low attendance attributed to poor weather. [18]
20098 February 2009 [20] 10,000 [21]
  • Razor
  • Queenie
  • Cindy Of Samoa [20]
201014 February 2010 [22] 12,000 [22]
  • Sarah Lambourne (Flirt)
  • Opening Karakia
  • NZ Quilt Project
  • Tess Tickle
  • Dykes on Bikes
  • The Aroha Festival Launch!
  • Get it on! with your significant others
  • Kids & Dogs
  • Ramon
  • Steven Oates
  • Finale Restaurant & Cabaret
  • Urzila Carlson
  • Beaver Brown
  • Larry - 'Signing' Singer
  • Jock Swap & Underwear models
  • Caluzzi Bar & Cabaret
  • Sheba Withers
  • Tug of War
  • Brittany
  • Manu Dolls
  • LA Thompson & Christ Barclay
  • Cindy of Samoa
  • Olaf & Keishia - 'U Want Me'
  • Razor
  • Will C Barling & sexy DJ Stevolicious
  • Annie Crummer [23]
201113 February 201110,000
201212 February 2012 [25] 14,000 [25]
  • Zowie
  • Te Roopu Kapahaka o Hokianga
  • Lorraine Butler
  • Sheree Waitoa
  • Finale Cabaret
  • Pearls of Meganesianz
  • Ngaire & Noreen
  • Caluzzi Girls
  • Kamp David
  • D’mynority
  • DNA Spectacular
  • Titch Marvel & the Paparazzi Dolls
  • Razor
  • Manthyng
  • Petra and her Poi Mob [25]
201310 February 2013 [26] 15,000 [26]
20149 February 2014 [28] 15,000 [28]
  • African Rhumba & Kwasa Kwasa
  • Ale Abud Held
  • Sonic Delusion
  • Mika X & The Aroha Project
  • Willie & Raymond
  • Sharvelle Charlotte
  • Charlotte Yates
  • Diamonds of Paradise
  • Fine Fatale
  • Kittens of the Internet
  • L.O.V.E
  • Family Bar Dragalicious
  • Lavina Williams
  • Legend Bar Showcase
  • LACE
  • Buckwheat & Tess Tickle
  • Urzila Carlson
  • Caluzzi Girls
  • Good Short
  • Cindy of Samoa [29]
20158 February 2015 [30] 12,000 - 15,000 [30] As part of the 'Love Your Condom' initiative, 20,000 condoms were distributed to the attendees and 209 people were tested for HIV. [30]
201614 February 2016 [31] 10,000 [31]
201712 February 2017 [24]
2018CancelledCancelledCancelledCancelled
201910 February 2019 [34]
20209 February 2020 [24]
202114 February 2021 [24] 12,000 - 15,000 [24]
2022CancelledCancelledCancelledCancelled
202312 March 2023 [10] UnknownPostponed

Health promotion

The New Zealand AIDS Foundation's [ permanent dead link ] program uses the Big Gay Out festival as an avenue to promote safe sex and develop condom culture in New Zealand. A survey administered during the 2012 Big Gay Out festival determined that those who stayed longer were more knowledgeable and positive toward condom culture and felt that the Get it on! message was an empowering one. Survey participants also said the program "helped to educate men about safe sex" and "helped them feel good about having safe sex." [36] In 2014, Get It On! was dropped and LYC was adopted as the main message. Love Your Condom (LYC) is New Zealand Aids Foundation’s social marketing programme for gay and bisexual men. It addresses a complex mix of attitudinal, behavioural and social change amongst a community that can be difficult to define and reach. The LYC Social Marketing team talks about the programme’s history, the challenges they face and what keeps them loving what they do. [37] In 2017, New Zealand Aids Foundation dropped Love Your Condom and created a new campaign called Ending HIV. It has a goal of ending new HIV transmission in New Zealand by 2025. The campaign highlight key points including: [38]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Day Out</span> Former music festival in Australia and New Zealand

The Big Day Out (BDO) was an annual music festival that was held in five Australian cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Perth, as well as Auckland, New Zealand. The festival was held during summer, typically in January of each year but was sometimes held as late as early February in some cities including Perth.

Criminal transmission of HIV is the intentional or reckless infection of a person with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is often conflated, in laws and in discussion, with criminal exposure to HIV, which does not require the transmission of the virus and often, as in the cases of spitting and biting, does not include a realistic means of transmission. Some countries or jurisdictions, including some areas of the U.S., have enacted laws expressly to criminalize HIV transmission or exposure, charging those accused with criminal transmission of HIV. Other countries charge the accused under existing laws with such crimes as murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, assault or fraud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT marketing</span>

LGBT marketing is the act of marketing to LGBT customers, either with dedicated ads or general ads, or through sponsorships of LGBT organizations and events, or the targeted use of any other element of the marketing mix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AIDS Healthcare Foundation</span> Nonprofit organization in Los Angeles

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and advocacy services. As of 2022, it operates about 400 clinics, 69 outpatient healthcare centers, 62 pharmacies, and 22 Out of the Closet thrift stores across 15 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and 45 countries, with more than 5,000 employees, and provides care to more than 1.8 million patients. The organization's aim is to end the AIDS epidemic by ensuring access to quality healthcare, including HIV and STD testing, prescription of medications like Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and referrals to speciality pharmacies. AHF is the largest provider of PrEP in the United States, though its founder Michael Weinstein has received criticism for his past opposition to the drug.

Lavina Rose Williams is a New Zealand musical artist and musical theatre performer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT in New Zealand</span>

New Zealand society is generally accepting of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) peoples. The LGBT-friendly environment is epitomised by the fact that there are several members of Parliament who belong to the LGBT community, LGBT rights are protected by the Human Rights Act, and same-sex couples are able to marry as of 2013. Sex between men was decriminalised in 1986. New Zealand has an active LGBT community, with well-attended annual gay pride festivals in most cities.

Christopher Banks is a New Zealand journalist, musician, record producer, songwriter and film-maker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GayNZ.com</span> LGBT community website for New Zealand

GayNZ.com is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community website for New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Hague</span> New Zealand politician

Kevin Grant Hague is a New Zealand activist and former chief executive and politician. He was a Member of Parliament for the Green Party from 2008 to 2016, and served as chief executive of Forest & Bird, an independent New Zealand conservation organisation, from October 2016 to April 2022. In July 2022 he became a volunteer Civil Defence and Emergency Management controller for the West Coast.

There is a relatively low prevalence of HIV/AIDS in New Zealand, with an estimated 2,900 people out a population of 4.51 million living with HIV/AIDS as of 2014. The rate of newly diagnosed HIV infections was stable at around 100 annually through the late 1980s and the 1990s but rose sharply from 2000 to 2005. It has since stabilised at roughly 200 new cases annually. Male-to-male sexual contact has been the largest contributor to new HIV cases in New Zealand since record began in 1985. Heterosexual contact is the second largest contributor to new cases, but unlike male-to-male contact, they are mostly acquired outside New Zealand. In 2018 the New Zealand Government reported a “major reduction” in the number of people diagnosed with HIV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burnett Foundation Aotearoa</span>

The Burnett Foundation Aotearoa is New Zealand’s national HIV prevention and healthcare organisation. Its funding is derived from grants, donations and the Ministry of Health.

Initial events and trends in the discussion of HIV and AIDS in mass media contributed to the stigma and discrimination against those affected with the disease. Later discussion, sometimes led by HIV+ individuals themselves, moved toward advocacy and education on disease prevention and management. The UNESCO report on Journalism Education says, "Well researched television content can create public awareness about HIV prevention, treatment, care and support can potentially influence the development and implementation of relevant policies."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carmen Rupe</span> New Zealand drag performer (1936–2011)

Carmen Rupe, was a New Zealand drag performer, brothel keeper, anti-discrimination activist, would-be politician and HIV/AIDS activist. Carmen Rupe was New Zealand's first drag queen to reach celebrity status. She was a trans woman.

Edward Cowley is a New Zealand-Samoan entertainer and fa'afafine.

Andreas Derleth is a German-New Zealand winner of Mr Gay New Zealand 2012 in Auckland and Mr Gay World 2012 in Johannesburg.

Sarah Larnach is a Grammy-nominated visual artist from New Zealand and Australia. She is best known for her collaborations with musicians, creating single artworks, Grammy and ARIA nominated album covers and packaging, tour art and music video contributions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auckland Pride Festival</span>

The Auckland Pride Festival is an annual festival held in Auckland, New Zealand. It began in 2013 and is New Zealand's largest Pride Festival. The festival has also brings together a number of other queer and queer supporting festivals and events in Auckland. They include the Same But Different Festival, Auckland Council's Proud Centres, Ending HIV NZ Big Gay Out, F.I.N.E Festival, Heroic Gardens, and Bear Week New Zealand. Alongside the annual festival, Auckland Pride also hosts 'The Queer Agenda', a year-long programme of events that allow people to have a taste of pride outside of the festival dates.

Cellarr is a band from Auckland, New Zealand, formed in 2012 by Jen Newton, PJ Shepherd, Harry Carter and George Powell. The original singer, Jen Newton, left the band in 2014 and was replaced by Possum Plows. Plows later left the band in 2020. Openside was originally known as Maybe Rave; however, they later changed their name to Openside, inspired by the sport Quidditch where one of the positions is Openside Chaser. In 2016, the band released their debut EP Album "Push Back" which reached number twelve in the New Zealand Charts and number two in the New Zealand Music Charts. In 2020, the band broke up and the males from the band created their new band called "Cellarr".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mika X</span> New Zealand Māori Singer

Mika X is a New Zealand Māori singer, performance artist, actor, filmmaker, TV producer and comedian.

Bruce Burnett was an AIDS activist and educator influential in establishing the New Zealand AIDS Foundation and early educational programmes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Earley, Melanie (11 March 2023). "Glitter bombs, joy and politics: The history of Auckland's Big Gay Out". Stuff. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  2. "Big Gay Out 2023". Concrete Playground. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  3. "Another Record Crowd for LYC Big Gay Out". www.burnettfoundation.org.nz. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  4. "John Key booed off stage at Big Gay Out". New Zealand Herald. 14 February 2016. ISSN   1170-0777. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  5. "Big Gay Out cancelled due to weather". Newshub. 11 February 2018. Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  6. "Big Gay Out: The celebration continues despite Covid community scare". NZ Herald. 14 February 2021. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  7. "Goff followed official advice in keeping Auckland events going". RNZ. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  8. "New Zealand Covid outbreak: Ardern puts Auckland into three-day lockdown". the Guardian. 14 February 2021. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  9. "Covid-19: Big Gay Out 2022 organisers cancel event citing fears over Omicron". Stuff NZ. 19 January 2021. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Big Gay Out postponed until March due to flood damage". RNZ. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  11. "February Hero Parade In Auckland Is Not Possible". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Ansell BGO pulls bigger than expected crowd". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  13. 1 2 "BGO: Politicians, police and happy faces". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  14. "Big Gay Out: Politics and poofs mix bigtime". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  15. "Big Gay Out - it's a "family" day". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  16. 1 2 "12,000 attend Big Gay Out (+ VIDEO)". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  17. "Big Gay Out 2007: Live reports from NZ's biggest glbt event". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  18. 1 2 3 "Big Gay Out defied weather to draw crowds". Archived from the original on 17 April 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  19. "The Eighth Annual "Big Gay Out"". Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  20. 1 2 "Big Gay Out 2009". YouTube . Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  21. "10,000 crowd makes BGO "huge success"". Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  22. 1 2 "12,000 picnicked and partied at Big Gay Out". www.gaynz.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  23. "GayNZ.com Big Gay Out's main stage line-up revealed". www.gaynz.com. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 {{Citation needed}}
  25. 1 2 3 "Big Gay Out declared another success". Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  26. 1 2 "Big Gay Out 2013 hit new crowd record". Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  27. "Colour Bomb To Go Off At Get It On! Big Gay Out". Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  28. 1 2 "Politicians, performers and fun at BGO". www.gaynz.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  29. "GayNZ.com Big Gay Out line-up packed with performers". www.gaynz.com. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  30. 1 2 3 "Big Gay Out pulled another strong crowd". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  31. 1 2 "BGO reports: Knockout performances, food and rainbow everything". Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  32. "Main Stage Line Up | The LYC Big Gay Out Festival". www.loveyourcondom.co.nz. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  33. "ENDING HIV BIG GAY OUT". Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  34. 1 2 "The Ending HIV Big Gay Out is over for another year. A massive thank you to everyone who came along to the 20th anniversary and our biggest, GAYEST, Big Gay Out, ever!". Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  35. "Big Gay Out Returns for 2023 Edition With Theia, Brady Peeti and More on March 12". TFword. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  36. Toledano, Margalit; Riches, Murray (2014). "Brand alliance and event management for social causes: Evidence from New Zealand". Public Relations Review. 40 (5): 807–814. doi:10.1016/j.pubrev.2014.09.001. Archived from the original on 7 June 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  37. "Inside NZAF: Love Your Condom". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  38. "NZAF's new campaign 'Ending HIV' aims to eliminate new HIV infections by 2025". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  39. "Whats Safe Sex". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  40. "All About Testing". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  41. "Treating Basic". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  42. "We Can End HIV". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.