Prime Minister John Key is confirmed to be appearing at this Sunday's Big Gay Out family picnic day at Auckland's Coyle Park in Point Chevalier. Showing his support: Prime Minister John Key Key has previously visited and spoken at the two most recent Big Gay Outs, and spent some time chatting to people in the NZ AIDS Foundation hospitality tent last year - but 2009 will be the first time he will appear as the Prime Minister. The leader of the opposition Phil Goff will also visit the outdoor day on behalf of the Labour Party. Labour MPs, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, have been a regular fixture of the event since its inception nine years ago. Back in 2007, Key's first appearance at the Big Gay Out prompted criticism in Parliament, when Labour's Annette King accused the National leader if showing a narrow attitude to gay people by wearing a pink shirt to the event. "He thinks all gays wear pink!" asserted King. Key later told GayNZ.com: "It wasn't pink, it was a light orange and white stripe."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 3rd February 2009 - 2:54pm