International Lesbian Day will be marked in New Zealand this year with a party in central Wellington, and several activities and shows at Paekakariki Memorial Hall. The weekend begins with a party on Friday 5th October at Blondini's Café and Jazz Bar at The Embassy Theatre in Wellington's Kent Terrace, with drinks from 5.30pm onwards and bar food provided. Organiser Shar Miles says Paekakariki Memorial Hall, 40km north of Wellington off the beachfront off State Highway One, will be the venue for various afternoon and evening events on Saturday 6th October. Beginning at 3pm will be a line-dancing workshop hosted by dancing extraordinaire Carole Stapleton. Discussion groups with Hilary Oxley and table games follow.Dinner is scheduled for 6pm - "Bring food to share to continue the lesbian tradition of pot-luck dinners," suggests Miles. The evening's entertainment begins at 8pm, this year featuring 'It's In the Backpack!': "hosted by gorgeous Selma Toobad, ably assisted by the staunch Tiny Butchier, with great prizes donated by Unity Books and Flamin' Poms." The evening will also feature a presentation of part four of 'The Play' by Alison J. Laurie, a line-dancing demonstration, live music and dancing the rest of the night away with music jockeyed by Carole Stapleton. The event costs $10 waged or $5 unwaged - for more information, contact Miles via email: shar.miles@paradise.net.nz . The origins of International Lesbian Day is a mystery to most, but the October date is believed to have been set to commemorate the anniversary of Lesbian feminist Anna Rüling address at an International Scientific and Humanitarian Committee in Germany on 8th October 1904, when she criticised the women's movement for not taking an active role in ending the oppression of lesbians. International Lesbian Day was first celebrated in Wellington by a small group of lesbians around 1993, and was revived in 2004. Ref: GayNZ.com (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 20th September 2007 - 3:08pm