The 2011 Bay Pride Festival is the inaugural event celebrating diversity in the community. The committee tells us more about the event, planned for 10 December. The festival is an event for the whole community. The original concept for the 2011 Bay Pride Festival was to “raise community awareness of the high number of youth suicides in the Bay of Plenty”. The committee who have convened for the Bay Pride Festival comprises of individuals who are gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, transgender and multicultural, representing communities within the wider Bay of Plenty. The group came about after Graeme Cribb (aka Ma Ma Laid) was regularly being approached by various individuals and organisations in the local area in who were looking for support and information. Because we have a high number of youth suicides related to sexuality issues, Graeme spoke to a number of social organisations and trusts, MP’s, local council, Maori Trusts, doctors, guidance counsellors, citizens advice bureau, as well as friends and personal contacts to see if there was any help out there. With little luck locally, Graeme started contacting National organisations. After no success, Graeme started inviting individuals from the community to form the BAY PRIDE committee. Since the initial concept, the festival has truly evolved into a huge celebration of diversity here in the Bay of Plenty. The festival has gained support from our Chinese, Philippine
Credit: Bay Pride Committee
First published: Monday, 14th November 2011 - 11:20am