Pride Parade organiser Jonathan Smith Registrations for the Auckland Pride Parade have closed off this morning, almost two weeks earlier than scheduled. "Due to the number of entries we have had come in we've reached our limit and have closed earlier than the planned January 31 date," says parade organiser Jonathan Smith, adding with glee "We have a parade!" "We have just over 40 entries which equates to about 1,200 people and I think that's quite a significant statement about how many people are really keen to be involved in the Pride Parade." Smith ascribes the enthusiasm to a re-establishing of glbti community spirit. "I think we are seeing that we've now got back that spirit again," he says. "Auckland's quite novel in this area... I don't know where Auckland's community actually sits but people are now seeing that this is a way of acknowledging that we do actually have a community in the greater Auckland area. And it's an opportunity for people to showcase their talents and organisations to a much, much broader community."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 18th January 2013 - 12:56pm