Quake refugee Aaron Comis has asked an Auckland business audience to keep Christchurch in its thoughts as there will be plenty of opportunities to help. Comis, who was recently crowned Mr Gay NZ, is in Auckland ahead of a trip to Sydney for Mardi Gras and then the Philippines for the Mr Gay World contest. The 32-year-old has been taking refuge (and hot showers) in central Auckland, where a member of the gay community has opened his home and helped him prepare for the Mr Gay World competition, as Comis left Christchurch before he could do things such as get formal wear for the competition. Comis says it's hard to explain what it was like to go through the quake. "This one seemed like an aftershock and then suddenly you're thrown from wall to wall ... I'm lucky to be alive and so are most Cantabrians." He says the city has almost been reduced to the 1800s. "I have a house still in the inner city. But it's without power or water and a running toilet. You don't realise how hard it is living without these things until suddenly overnight, or over day as it was this time, they're all gone." Comis says Christchurch appreciates the goodwill being sent its way. He says it's hard to say how the gay community can help at this stage, as the recovery remains the focus and plenty is being sent to the city that will help post-recovery. "It's hard to tell you what we need. But just hold that thought. In future we will need you ... even if it's a weekend away at your house, that's very much appreciated." After he spoke Comis was light-heartedly asked to take off his shirt and show off the impressive body which has helped him gain the Mr Gay NZ title, which he happily agreed to. He will compete against gay men from all over the world at the Mr Gay World competition, where he plans to bring up the quake experience and the plight of his city. GayNZ.com readers can help him in his tilt for the title by voting his as your favourite in an online popularity poll on the Mr Gay World site.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 3rd March 2011 - 4:04pm