The Gay Auckland Business Association is pleased to announce the winner of their inaugural ‘Queer of the Year' award is former Rainbow Labour MP Georgina Beyer. “She is an international icon for the LGBT community, leading several campaigns to obtain rights and claim freedoms for us,” says GABA President Johnny Givens of the deserving winner. The special ‘Queer of the Year' dinner will be held to honour the occasion. “We thought about leaving our decision a secret until the dinner, but we knew a dinner with Gerogina Beyer would be a big draw card to get people along, so we've made the announcement early,” explains Givins. GABA's new Event coordinator Larry Jenkins says "I think this tribute to a unique woman, a member of the New Zealand GLBT family, a trailblazer in politics, someone who has seen life from many perspectives is highly appropriate coming at this time in her career. Very fitting and not to be missed are this ceremony and her (undoubtedly remarkable) response." The award dinner will be held at The Sorrento Restaurant, in Auckland's Cornwall Park. The event starts at 7pm on Thursday 10th May. Tickets are available at $80 for GABA members, $100 for non-members – book by email: info@gaba.co.nz or phone 09 476 9181. Ref: GABA (m)