Dunedin Pride organisers hope this Saturday’s event will help bring visibility to the GLBTI community. On Saturday 6 April 2013 Dunedin Pride will begin in the Octagon from 1-4PM for a family-friendly community festival led by MC Samiam. At 9PM a Pride After-Party will be hosted by Miss Ribena, and will feature local and national acts such as Manthyng, Bruce Tiffany and Count Blakula. One of its organisers Hahna Briggs says the Festival is about visibility for the Dunedin LGBTI-queer community and to provide a space to celebrate diversity. It welcomes all people of all genders and sexualities and aims to be as inclusive as possible. “The visibility that this type of event brings to the Dunedin queer community is so important, as we are still battling current issues such as transphobia, rates of mental illness amongst young queer people, and marriage equality,” she says. Currently in Dunedin there are regular queer parties such Glitter Box. Additionally, OUSA Queer Support runs Queerest Tea Party twice year. There are also regular activities, such as walking groups and Lemon Briefcase meetings for local professionals. However Briggs says there don’t seem to be very many youth spaces and is no fixed queer spot such as a cafe. “Additionally queers are still visibly the minority and stand out as being different,” she says. “Hopefully Pride changes this.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 3rd April 2013 - 2:47pm