Get It On's Rip Roll Ride tattoos (NZAF) Get It On! is after volunteers to do everything from collecting donations and directing traffic, to slapping temporary tattoos on punters and handing condoms at this Sunday’s Big Gay Out in Auckland. Joe Rich from Get It On! says about 40-50 people are still required to help out at the massive annual gay gathering at Pt Chevalier’s Coyle Park. “You don’t have to be a part of the gay community, but you do need to a be supporter of it,” he says. Anyone who is interested is asked to register here Rich says preparations for Sunday are “full steam ahead”, with the VIPs invited, the stalls booked, the condoms being packed and the entertainment line-up confirmed. The Big Gay Out will have a double-act of headliners this year, with electro pixie Zowie and gay Dunedinites Manthyng following hot on the heels of popular headliner Anika Moa, who had the crowd in hysterics with her ballsy performance last year. Also back is rock ready lesbian covers band Razor, and a bevy of drag acts, dancers, musicians and MCs. Also present will be police Diversity Liaison Officers who will have an information tent, and a number of openly-gay and lesbian police officers, who will be among those patrolling Coyle Park on Sunday. “We’re looking forward to a huge day on Sunday,” Rich says, adding that the event is family friendly and will include games for youngsters, while there will also be a new addition in carnival rides. “We certainly encourage all family members, it’s a kid friendly event and there’s lots of entertainment for everyone. So whether you’ve got nieces and nephews or sons and daughters, they’re absolutely welcome. Rich says any Big Gay Out virgins can expect a celebration of sexual diversity. “And an opportunity to have fun and be yourself, around a lot of likeminded people. And that’s not just the gay community, it’s people who support the gay community and friends and family as well. That’s the main reason we put of the event “There will also be a lot of talk about condoms and condoms given out. It will be a great opportunity for us to talk about condom use, as we’ve got this huge amount of our audience together in one place.” Everything you need for the Big Gay Out: You can find an event map here , the full line-up here and information about the $2 Family Party Bar bus which loops through parts of the city and to and from Coyle Park here Hamilton bar Shine is also running a bus to and from the Big Gay Out, which you can get a $30 return seat on by going here (Hurry though seats are limited). The Big Gay Out runs from midday until 7PM at Coyle Park which you can find on a map here … phew, surely that covers everything! Oh hang on … if you haven’t had enough gay for one day and want to party on head to Family on K’ Rd for the after party, with DJs from 7PM and drag shows from 8.30PM. Family is also hosting a party off-site to warm you up the night before the Big Gay Out, Sexy, which you can find more about here See you all Sunday!
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 8th February 2012 - 2:46pm