3.45PM: The government is about to begin work on a project aimed at addressing youth suicide, the Prime Minister has announced. Speaking from the main stage of the Get It On Big Gay Out Mr Key did not give any further details which he says are yet to be announced. Glbti youth are five times more likely to attempt suicide than anyone else. He also complemented the work being done to reduce the spread of HIV saying such work is "critical to the health of everyone." Key, who has been treated like a mega-celebrity by many of the BGO crowd, highlighted the work Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye has done to push for the proposed glbti Pride festival and says that Auckland city appears to be keen on financially assisting the project. During the PM's appearance an Australian visitor unexpectedly bounded up onto the stage to have his photo taken with Key, saying that last time he was here he had his photo taken with then-Prime Minister Helen Clark. While the PM's speech was well received in some quarters the overall crowd response seemed more muted than last year. GayNZ.com Daily News is filing regular live reports throughout the afternoon from the Big Gay Out. You can discuss this New Zealand gay community news story in the GayNZ.com Forum.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 12th February 2012 - 3:42pm