Hamilton's LGBT venues are doing well, and plans are in place for the city's first Pride Week in December, say locals. “Well they said it could never be done, but Hamilton has broken the mould and Venom, the gay-friendly night club in Hamilton's main Victoria street has survived and seems to be making a bright projection into the future,” announces Venom nightclub's resident diva Miss Glorioushole. The dance floor is busy each Friday and Saturday night, with ‘DJ Destruction' also now playing each Thursday night. Venom's website at http://www.venom.co.nz/ updated regularly with photos and YouTube clips of their shows, has also been popular. Venom's Mr. Gay Hamilton 2007 pageant will take place in August, owner Nicholas can now confirm. A few blocks down the raod in Garden Place, Glamz! dinner and cabaret venue is holding ‘Erotica' shows each Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings throughout July, featuring live singers and drag artists. In nearby Frankton, The Next Door bar, re-opened in May, has hosted special events on most Saturday nights. Mark Richardson behind the bar says the next event is their ‘Leather and Uniform' night this Saturday the 21st from 10pm. Changes are still in the air at the Next Door Bar: “Plans are being drawn up and we'll be able to apply for building consent next month,” says Richardson. Plans are well underway for Hamilton's first Pride Week, with the New Zealand AIDS Foundation's Gay Men's Health coordinator in the region, Geoff Ruaine, meeting regularly with a small team to get as wide a range of local community groups involved as possible. Hamilton Pride Week will begin with a party on Saturday 1st December (World AIDS Day) and end with a Picnic in the park on Sunday the 9th. “So we've got the beginning and end sorted out, and got lots of ideas for events during the week,” says Ruaine. “The enthusiasm out there from the community has been awesome. People saying it's been a long time in coming.” Gay Men's Health Hamilton can be contacted on email at contact.hamilton@nzaf.org.nz or by phone on 07 838 3557. Ref: GayNZ.com (m)