Thousands of glbt folk from around Auckland and further afield have vacated inner-city Coyle Park after what organisers are calling a successful and well-behaved Big Gay Out family picnic and fun day. BGO MC Verity George with hunky volunteers Heavy low level clouds and occasional skiffs of morning drizzle coupled with an ominous weather forecast meant numbers attending this year's BGO were lower than the 6-7000 of previous years, but event organiser Jonathan Smith says under the circumstances the turnout was great. Along with muscle boys, drag queens, hand holding couples of all sexes and family groups, the event was well attended by politicians. Prime Minister Helen Clark was the hit of the afternoon, giving a well received speech with showed significant knowledge of issues affecting the glbt community. In particular she urged gay men to commit to safe sex, reminding everyone that there is no cure for HIV. Clark also publicly strengthened her government's commitment to seeing anti-hate speech legislation passed through the house and hinted at support for the Law Commission's recommendation that 'gay panic' defense be outlawed. Her walkabout of the park was described by Labour MP Tim Barnett as being somewhat like a "royal progress" as she was continually approached by people to chat or to ask for their photo to be taken with the PM. An earlier speech by opposition and National party leader John Key was less well targeted, with his main example of the need for a tolerant society drawn from his experience of the Sri Lankan immigrant community. Both Clark and Key stated their support for the work of the NZ AIDS Foundation, the hosts of the BGO, with Key promising that should National win this year's general election it will continue to back the Foundation. Auckland's notoriously anti-gay Mayor John Banks was spotted putting in a brief appearance but made no contact with the event organisers or hosts. Most people at the BGO were unaware he had even been present. Entertainment was provided by performers on the main stage and in several dance and bar tents which were frequently packed with writhing bodies sweating in the high humidity. Stalls and other attractions were likewise well patronised. GayNZ.com's BGO reports, filed live from the event throughout the afternoon, can be accessed through the link below.