Last Thursday the Out Takes Reel Queer Film Festival launched two petitions in conjunction with Rainbow Labour to address the mounting concern surrounding their prize trip to Fiji, where gay men are liable to be arrested for consensual sex. When deciding to accept the offer of the prize from Fiji's Octopus Resort, Out Takes understood that Fiji's High Court had struck down the anti-gay sex law, ruling it unconstitutional due to its discriminatory effect. Since then, an undated letter from the Fijian High Commission in Wellington cast doubt on the legal situation of gay men in Fiji, by stating that the anti-gay sex laws are still enforceable in spite of the High Court ruling. Both petitions – one to the Fijian government and one to the New Zealand government – seek clarification on the current legal situation, and ask the Fijian government to adhere to their own Constitution, as well as to reverse their current policy of denying entry for those who are HIV positive. Wendy Houlahan, Operations Manager of Out Takes, said the organisation launched the petitions after learning of the confusion surrounding the legal status of consensual homosexual acts in Fiji. "We were horrified that people in Fiji are being arrested in breach of their own Constitution," said Houlahan. Out Takes asked for urgent clarification from the Fijian High Commission on the issue, but is yet to hear back. Out Takes has thus far not addressed the issue of those with HIV being denied entry to Fiji, except to say that some of their members had raised this as a concern. The HIV support and advocacy group Body Positive Auckland called the prize "inappropriate" in that those with HIV could not enjoy it should they win. Out Takes says they will "not let anyone take the prize without letting them know what the risks are." Meanwhile, Out Takes reports the festival "is pumping along and a resounding success – looks like the best [festival] ever, with outstanding audience attendances."