9.15PM: Two hundred people, mostly glbti folk, gathered in front of the Auckland War memorial Museum have cheered as the landmark building was illuminated in the colours of the gay rainbow flag. Jaycee Tanuvasa and Tamati Coffey Many of those on hand for the switch-on, marking the Auckland Pride Festival, were holding hands or hugging as the vivid illuminations bathed the neo-classical building which looks out over Auckland from high above the Domain. Gay TV presenter Tamati Coffey did the countdown and deputy mayor Penny Hulse commented on how great Auckland looks with a number of buildings lit up for the Pride festival. From the Museum the iconic Sky Tower could be seen sporting rainbow hues. Lesbian Manurewa MP Louisa Wall also spoke and updated the crowd on progress on her push to have gender identity clearly included in the Human Rights Act (see separate story). The Sky Tower is a beacon of gay pride At the end of the event many of the crowd said they were feeling great pride seeing the Museum lit up and were heading down to the waterfront to see the rainbow illuminations there. However before too many had dispersed the crowd was marshaled onto the museum steps for a group photograph. Update: 10.45PM: Although it was announced two days ago that the waterfront Cloud venue and the gantry at Silo Park would be lit up in rainbow colours, a GayNZ.com observer says there was no evidence of the special lighting at those locations late this evening.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 17th February 2014 - 9:28pm