Big Gay Out February 7, 2004

The Big Gay Out was created in 2000 as a ?family? event, getting away from the image of the night-time gay community that the parade and the Hero Party seemed to foster. Scheduled as a ?picnic day? with entertainment, the first Big Gay Out overwhelmed organisers by the numbers of people attending and their enthusiasm for it.

Since then the event has developed extensively and is now anticipated by Aucklanders and all those out of towners who visit the city during Hero. The event is likely to draw up to 10,000 people and this year they will have more to do and see than ever before. And again it is sponsored by condom-maker Ansell.

While the structure of the event is the same - an informal, outdoor picnic-day - it now offers more entertainment and more facilities.

Whether your interest is just sprawling in the sun and meeting friends in front of the main stage, or seeing what the various groups and businesses that represent Auckland?s queer communities have to offer, the Ansell Big Gay Out has been focussed on your enjoyment.

Organised this year, as it was in 2003, by Jonathan Smith and Sandy Goodwin from Eventimento, the Ansell Big Gay Out 2004 has a special emphasise on slick, high-quality entertainment. From noon until 7:00pm, it comes thick and fast.

There is the Ansell Mainstage. It?ll feature the best of drag-divas, including Auckland?s Buckwheat and Wellington?s Polyfilla. Lyndah E will perform, along with Pulse, the group that went down so well with Big Gay Outers last year. Also this year one of the star MCs and performers will be Power Femme Parekotuku Moore, a comedienne with punch, from Wellington.

There is the new Orcon Food Marquee and GayNZ.com Internet café which will not only offer food and drink but a variety of entertainment from 12:30pm with DJs and other live entertainment. With the satellite linked Orcon Internet/GayNZ.com Internet Café you can explore the GayNZ.com website, check your emails, or venture out into cyberspace.

As in previous years there will be the George FM Peugeot Dance Tent with DJs Karl Moser, Sam Holloway and Jess Hartley.

While these are the main entertainment areas there will be a variety of bar spaces and food stands. The range of food this year will go from hotdogs to health-food, American to Thai.

In addition there are a number of stalls selling products from dog-leashes for your dog to leatherwares, sex-wares, South American handicrafts, T-shirts, and massages. Many of Auckland?s gay, lesbian and transgendered groups will have displays including the Pride Centre and Gayline/Lesbianline.

The Gay Bikers will have a venue as will the Auckland Gay Bridge Club. Eroxx Dance productions, one of the most supportive of gay Auckland businesses will also have a special tent.

One feature that has become a star event is the annual dog-show with prizes for the Butchest and the Campest Dogs. It isn?t only a feature of every news-item that comes out of the Big Gay Out but it is one of the most popular events.

Dog-owners should be aware though of the new regulations that require dogs to be on a leash at all times and to stay more than ten metres from the children?s play area.

In addition to this there are the usual Toss The Handbag Competitions, and the Ansell Lube Slide Competition overseen by Miss K.

One special event this year is the Mass Commitment Ceremony. Organised to mark the fact that the Civil Union Bill is to go before Parliament this year, the Big Gay Out is offering those in relationships the chance to publicly declare their union. Celebrant Wayne Otter will conduct the ceremony. Those interested should go to http://www.gaynz.com/Hero/commitment.asp to register interest.

Whatever the weather (and the rain date, just in case, is Sunday 15 February) it seems that this years event is set to confirm the place of the Ansell Big Gay Out as the largest and most popular queer event on the Hero calendar.