"It's at times like these that we really realise the strength and spirit of our community", says OUTLine NZ's chairperson as October's $30,000 fundraising target for the LGBT phone support network is reached. Several amounts raised by LGBT community events at the weekend are yet to be counted, but GayNZ.com can now reveal that the projected amount gathered through October is well over $30,000. A little over $28,000 had been counted on Friday, and the contestants at last night's Mr. Gay Auckland pageant gained $400 from generous punters at Family bar. Funds raised from Christchurch's drag shows at CRUZ bar/nightclub at the weekend, events at Wellington's SOUTLine Chairperson Lorraine Martin reacts. "OUTLine October has proved to be a phenomenal success. "As we grow through our lives it can be easy to forget the value of having recognised support services for people less fortunate than ourselves and to see so many people contributing in a meaningful way over the past month has been heart warming." Aside from raising the much needed funding, OUTLine October has put the spotlight on the organisation and has provided a talking point for many people, Martin explains. "We have had many people coming out of the woodwork to let us know of their respect and support. This has given us a great shot in the arm on a non-financial level too. "The work that our OUTLine telephone counsellors do is often invisible to the rest of the community and to have the community stand up and tell us how much they value the work we do is appreciated," she adds. OUTLine, which takes over 4,000 calls for help from LGBT or questioning New Zealanders each year, faced a serious funding shortfall and had to let its only staff member go. The $30,000 raised during OUTLine October will help ensure the service can continue to be professionally managed and that service retrenchment becomes less likely while alternative structured funding is sought. "We would like to take this opportunity on behalf of all of us at OUTLine and all of the people who benefit from our services, to say thank you to everybody who has helped by their generosity and support. As an organisation and as a community this is a time we can all stand up with smile and our faces and share in the pride we celebrate," Lorraine concludes. FUTURE FUNDRAISERS OUTLine October may be over but there are two more events benefiting OUTLine coming up in late November. On Thursday 26 November a light comedy musical revue called Hold the Line Please Caller centring around a night on the Outline phones is being held at the Auckland Musical Theatre and tickets are available from Outline. On Saturday 28 November the fabulous Buffy and Bimbo are holding their retrospective show An Audience with Buffy and Bimbo. The drag twins will reminisce on the past twelve years since their first appearance as the Makeover Girls at the February 1997 Hero Parade. Guest performers, a celebrity interview, game shows and more are planned for the one-night-only event.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Monday, 2nd November 2009 - 12:10pm