Thu 6 Aug 2015 In: Our Communities View at Wayback View at NDHA
Preparations for the Auckland-hosted Fourth Asia-Pacific Outgames in February next year may have stumbled but the organisers are not out for the count. Those of us who became immersed in the 2011 Outgames in Wellington, and its associated human rights and cultural elements, quickly came to realise what an important and massively enjoyable event it was. Highlights for GayNZ.com Daily News reporters were many and varied. There was the down-home camaraderie and conviviality of the teams at the ten-pin bowling. The inspiring competitiveness of the Aussies in the swimming pool. The hushed, tearful response to a Nepalese delegate's recounting of savage brutalisation received at the hands of that country's homophobic military. The proud presence of uniformed NZ gay and lesbian police officers. The discovery by Pacific Island delegates that they are not as alone as their geography might seem to dictate. The realisation of just how shabbily lgbti people in many of our region's nations are treated by their governments, religions and societies. The take-no-prisoners women's soccer matches. The exotic - and erotic - dance parties. The shared shock of the Japanese tsunami and the resultant absence of Japanese delegates. The mash-ups of accents, cultures and personalities of delegates from 26 nations. The helpfulness of the squads of pink-shirted volunteers who kept everything ticking over, answered a million questions and dealt to occasional last minute cock-ups. There was the polished glide and glam of the ballroom dancing. And the less dignified 10.30am and 3pm surges of coffee-clutching, agenda-shuffling delegates racing to their next important and engrossing forums. There was the rare chance for trans and intersex people to meet, bond and draw strength from each-other's stories. The jaw-dropping beauty of the divers. The manic mountain-bike racing. The surprise of many international delegates' to be in a city where the police and Parliamentary officers were unarmed, friendly and non-judgmental. And the by turns gracious and raucous closing ceremony and party... who would have suspected that Cindy of Samoa belting out ten Tina Turner classics could leave you wanting even more! For all those reasons, and a whole lot more besides, it is important that if at all possible February's Auckland Outgames, with its associated human rights conference and cultural festival, goes ahead. Much has been planned but there is much to be done and there is, frankly, not a heap of time left in which to pull it back together. Without major council funding and major corporate sponsorship it will not now be possible to sprinkle rainbow cheques over the various tasks and challenges. There will be some money, but not a lot. Instead Aucklanders, with help from kin from further afield, will have to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in. If the wider Auckland glbti communities can pull together and front up sufficiently to support those organisers left holding the Outgames baby then it's do-able. If support is modest then it can be a cheap and cheerful event. If support is greater then it can be proportionately grander. But there are really only days before the organisers, whilst currently putting on their most pragmatic yet optimistic faces, must surely have to evaluate with a cold, clear, eye whether there's enough real support, commitment, energy and skill emerging from the Auckland glbti communities to reshape this event and make it happen for the glbti people of New Zealand and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Now, not later, is the time to front up with any available skills and resources you can contribute. To make an irrevocable decision the organisers must know right away who and what they will have available to work with. Fine details can be sorted out later. Advised by the organisers that much basic planning is already done, especially for the sporting components, that a number of important commitments are in place, and sensing that the next few days are crucial, GayNZ.com management is today fronting up and giving the Outgames organisers $20,000 worth of gratis advertising space, reaching our monthly average of 35,000 independently-counted glbti readers, to use as they see fit. The GayNZ.com Daily News editorial team is committing even more than we had already planned to produce detailed, frank and constant editorial coverage of the preparations, to facilitate the necessary up-to-the-minute communication link between the organisers – those already on board and those who have started to offer their help in the last few days as the Games' difficulties became clear – and our wider glbti communities. We will also contribute a human rights forum on glbti matters as handled by the gay and mainstream media. And we will do everything we can to support the efforts of those individuals, organisations and businesses who now step up to the mark and share in the challenge of pulling together, quite quickly, a fabulous, energetic and fulfilling Fourth Asia-Pacific Outgames and human rights and cultural festival. - Jay Bennie If you want to help the organisers of the Fourth Asia-Pacific Outgames please contact them right away: info@4apog.com Jay Bennie - 6th August 2015