More visibility for HIV-positive people at the forthcoming Big Gay Out is the goal of a tent providing a relaxation and viewing space at the event. Operated by Body Positive, Positive Women and the Cartier Trust, the Poz-Friendly Chill Out Lounge will be "an informal space for positive people and their supporters to relax, with shade and Red Ribbon bean bags to lounge in and watch the show," says new Body Positive general manager Mark Fisher. Fisher says one of his goals as he settles into Body Positive is to encourage HIV-positive people, the majority of whom in New Zealand are gay and bi men, to be more visible. He hopes increased visibility will help counter the levels of stigma HIV-positive people report experiencing. The lounge tent "will be a welcoming and supportive space for people living with HIV at the BGO," Fisher says, adding: "No stigma allowed!" Refreshments and sunscreen will be available on hand and "an army of sewers has come on board to start constructing the bean bags." Fisher says the concept has been supported by the NZ AIDS Foundation, which runs the Big Gay Out at Auckland's Coyle Park and has discounted the rate charged usually to stallholders.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 27th December 2014 - 9:03pm