The Bay of Plenty is warming up for its celebration of diversity in all its forms with the inaugural 2011 Bay Pride Festival. A committee is planning a family-friendly event, modelled on Auckland's Big Gay Out, at the Rotorua All Seasons Holiday Park on 10 December. The original concept for the event was to raise community awareness of the high number of youth suicides in the Bay of Plenty. 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, MPs, 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," the committee says. "After no success, Graeme started inviting individuals from the community to form the Bay Pride committee." The event has evolved into a celebration of all types of diversity, with the committee explaining: "The Bay Pride Festival is not only a festival for the gay community, but celebrates the diverse nature of our wider community. Anyone is welcome to attend, so invite your mum, dad, brother, sister, friends… anyone important to you, that you would like to share this day."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 14th November 2011 - 11:44am