Big_Gay_Out

Big Gay Out

Big Gay Out

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For the English event of the same name, see Big Gay Out (London).

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]

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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]

In 2024, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was protested at the event by trans rights activists and pro-Palestine activists.[5]

Postponements and Cancellations

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.[6]

Part-way through the Big Gay Out 2021, it was announced that three cases of COVID-19 had emerged in South Auckland.[7] Mayor Phil Goff learned of the outbreak on his way to the event, but was advised that the event could continue.[8] The following day, Auckland went into a three day lockdown.[9]

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.[10]

The Big Gay Out 2023 was postponed until 12 March due to flooding damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.[11]

Headlining Acts and Attendance

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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." [37] 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.[38] 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:[39]

  • Playing safe. Which means safe sex with the use of condoms and taking PrEP.[40]
  • Testing Often. Most HIV transmissions happen with people who do not know they have HIV and have unprotected sex. Testing often will diagnose people with HIV and get them onto treatment which will help stop spreading HIV.[41]
  • Treat Early. Treating early not only protects personal health, but it also reduces the chance of transmitting HIV to another person.[42]
  • Ending HIV Stigma. Stigma refers to prejudice and discrimination towards people living with HIV, their friends, partners and whānau. Even though HIV stigma was at its peak during the early days of the AIDS epidemic, many people living with HIV still experience prejudice on a daily basis.[43]

References

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    Earley, Melanie (11 March 2023). "Glitter bombs, joy and politics: The history of Auckland's Big Gay Out". Stuff. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Big Gay Out 2023". Concrete Playground. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  3. [3]
    "Another Record Crowd for LYC Big Gay Out". www.burnettfoundation.org.nz. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  4. [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.
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    "Christopher Luxon leaves Big Gay Out after heated protest". RNZ. 18 February 2024.
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    "Big Gay Out cancelled due to weather". Newshub. 11 February 2018. Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
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    "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.
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    "Goff followed official advice in keeping Auckland events going". RNZ. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
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    "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.
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    "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.
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    "Big Gay Out postponed until March due to flood damage". RNZ. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
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    "February Hero Parade In Auckland Is Not Possible". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
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    [citation needed]
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    "Big Gay Out declared another success". Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
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    "Politicians, performers and fun at BGO". www.gaynz.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
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    "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.
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    "BGO reports: Knockout performances, food and rainbow everything". Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
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    "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.
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    "ENDING HIV BIG GAY OUT". Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  35. [35]
    "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.
  36. [36]
    "Big Gay Out Returns for 2023 Edition With Theia, Brady Peeti and More on March 12". TFword. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  37. [37]
    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.
  38. [38]
    "Inside NZAF: Love Your Condom". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  39. [39]
    "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.
  40. [40]
    "Whats Safe Sex". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  41. [41]
    "All About Testing". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  42. [42]
    "Treating Basic". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  43. [43]
    "We Can End HIV". Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
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