This year's Dunedin Pride Week kicks off on Saturday 26 August, promising a jam-packed schedule of fun, discussion and performance. Festivities begin with the 2nd annual FunQ Lavender Globe Awards, where local LGBT personalities will be honoured for their contribution to sports and business, plus awards for ‘Young Person' and ‘Plain Queer' of the Year. The week continues with dance parties, political discussion, NZAF workshops and more. “It's a family reunion of sorts,” says Daniel Larsen, organiser and Community Liaison for the LGBT student support group, UniQ. “Pride Week brings us together from our various pockets of the ‘queer' communities. It's a chance to hang out, have fun, discuss serious issues, meet and marry, argue politics, eat, play, perform.” Pride Week promises a “good mix of exclusive and inclusive celebration,” offering space for local LGBT people to feel “mainstream” while providing plenty of opportunities for interaction with the wider Dunedin community. Political fare includes a Rainbow Greens discussion with Green Party MP and sponsor of the Adoption Equity Amendment Bill, Metiria Turei, and Rainbow Labour MPs Tim Barnett and Maryan Street will join the PFLAG group (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) to “discuss policies relating to the queer community, friends and families.” Rainbow Day provides the wider community a chance to interact with LGBT locals, and raise the profile of Dunedin's LGBT community. The day of games, food and entertainment will take centre stage in the city's iconic Octagon. The New Zealand AIDS Foundation is hosting three workshops, including an HIV update, and a chance for locals to have their say on issues of safe sex and sexuality-based prejudice. Bands, games nights, get-togethers for older LGBT people, a literary tour, art exhibitions, a queer church service, women's activities, drama and the famous Pride party, are among many events on the tightly packed eight day schedule, finishing on Sunday 3 September. “Our identity as gay, lesbian, bi, takataapui, trans, queer, and intersex is an inspiring and enlivening element of our being,” says Larsen, “and it can inspire and enliven those around us too.” Ref: GayNZ.com (d)