Sat 31 Aug 2013 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
The stage is ready... 7.45PM: A packed crowd has gathered this evening to honour Peter Taylor, whose fight against two life-defeating illnesses is almost over. The atmosphere is happy and bright ant Taylor himself, who arrived with his partner, Rodney Colman, and was escorted into the venue, Auckland's St Matthews In The City, by event co-organiser Karen Ritchie. Taylor, dressed all in black, seems upbeat and alert. Based on the format of the TV programmes This Is Your Life, the evening will see Taylor honoured by people who have been closely involved with him through his life. For decades Taylor has been struggling with HIV and leishmaniasis infections, the only person in the world known to have contracted both diseases. Recent years have been a never-ending assault on his increasingly frail body by chemo- and radio-therapy as well as less extreme but still toxic medications. Weakened and in increasing discomfort, he has decided to stop all treatment after tonight and to let nature take his course, expecting that his final days may now be numbered in weeks, not months. He specifically underwent chemo several days ago to be able to attend tonight's event. An auction will also be held tonight and will include personally signed photos by and of Barbra Streisand and Elizabeth Taylor. Wine and artwork will also be auctioned.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 31st August 2013 - 8:06pm