Tue 27 Nov 2012 In: Our Communities View at Wayback View at NDHA
Excitement is building in Christchurch as Pride rolls full steam towards its grand finale, the Fantasy Ball on Saturday night … as hope bubbles away from its hardworking organisers that the return of Pride has really helped people relax, have fun and reconnect. The return of Christchurch Pride came 19 days ago, after a long 18-month absence due to the city’s devastating earthquakes. In those 19 days there have been some key events: the Queer Fair, the Big Bear Weekend and a Beavers Party for women. There have also been coffee nights, movies, a marriage equality talk, bowling, an HIV workshop, bingo, a gender-diversity dinner and walks. It has been a packed schedule and the team of organisers are, from many accounts, working their fingers to the bone trying to bring what is a somewhat fractured community back together. Of course like the general population Christchurch’s GLBT population also suffered an outflow after the quakes. Yet there’s a sense of hope around that Pride is building on the momentum of the regular events run by the UpRising Trust, Bears Christchurch and She women’s nights. While there is a steady core, the word on the street from many is the likes of: “people have just been staying home. The ones that are still here anyway, they just aren’t coming out any more.” That’s why the Pride is back, because as coordinator Anne Nicholson puts it, the trying times over the last year and half have left many anxious and under pressure: “Our festival has a big emphasis on fun in the hopes that this will help bring down the stress levels and take our minds of the day-to-day difficulties of living in Christchurch at the moment,” she says. “It’s also a chance for the queer community to reconnect with one another. The quakes fractured the Christchurch community and the queer community along with it. They took away so much of our infrastructure, the places we went and the activities we did to connect with each other.” The turnouts have been positive, and there is high hope for a huge final night this Saturday, when the Fantasy Ball will be held at The Bedford, with the theme “WTF? .... What's The Fantasy?” Daniel Pengelly of the popular local improve troupe the Court Jesters will MC. Performers from the GLBT community include local radio host and singer/songwriter Sheree Waitoa, vocalist Lisa Tui and drag artiste Little Miss Cinnamon. There will also be burlesque thanks to Ayla’s Angels. Auckland DJ Donald Bennett will be supported by local spinner Craig Morris. “The Pride Committee and the UpRising Trust are really pleased to have this line-up,” a clearly excited spokesman Richard Tankersley says. There will be prizes for best male identity costume, best female identity costume and most outrageous costume. Tankersley says there will also be a finale during which the Pride Committee will join the performers on stage. Quite amazing really, that they had squeezed in time to learn a routine too! As for the rest of the week, today is the last chance to check out the art exhibition at the NZAF offices, and tonight there will be a quiz at popular GLBT hangout The Honey Pot Café. On Wednesday there is a chance to help Get It On! by packing condoms, an activity we’re told is always a good laugh and a chance to meet people. On Thursday night local queer youth group Q-Topia will be hosting an open night, a chance to meet the leaders of the future and those who are helping them find their feet. On Friday there will be a collection for World AIDS Day at Riccarton mall, and volunteers are invited back to the NZAF for drinks and pizza afterwards. As it draws to a close, the key questions are: Is Pride helping? Is it bringing people together? Are they having fun? The word in Christchurch is most definitely. Those who are attending are having a ball – and are full of optimism that Pride laying the foundations for a much stronger community in the future. As one regular puts it: “I just really hope word will spread, and those who are staying at home will start coming back out, and our community will just get stronger and stronger. “And I hope we can create a place where people who are, you know, ‘coming out’, will feel they can come out and join us too.” Jacqui Stanford, in Christchurch - 27th November 2012
Credit: Jacqui Stanford, in Christchurch
First published: Tuesday, 27th November 2012 - 3:54pm