The school ball where anything goes gender-wise is back for another year. Rainbow Youth is hosting its Alternative Ball, for anyone aged 27 and under, who can bring a partner of whichever gender they prefer, come in a group, or come alone to the supportive and fun environment. The sixth annual ball will have a circus theme and is to be held at Karangahape Rd's DNA this Sunday, with the event strictly alcohol and drug free. Rainbow Youth says the event has attracted hundreds of young people from across the greater Auckland area, with a 60 per cent jump in attendance expected from last year's ball, at Galatos. It says the expected increase stands as a reflection of the work Rainbow Youth has put into an event many youth are still banned from bringing their same-sex partners to. It points out that this year a Wellington school denied a student the right to bring a male friend, a decision which sparked public outrage and a media campaign which attracted over 6,000 supporters, and lobbied against the school board, a group which Rainbow Youth says has historically failed to recognised the gender or sexual orientation of all students. Rainbow Youth's executive director Thomas Hamilton says the greatest asset Rainbow Youth has is its youth and volunteers who should be given full credit for helping create this event annually. "We thank all those young people across Aotearoa who have challenged their schools to include them in an event that has been acknowledged as a traditional rite of passage for all students, and to those schools that have already taken steps to secure the inclusion of their queer and trans identified youth." There will be a $10 door charge - More info here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 6th December 2011 - 5:51pm