Most LGBT community support services are taking a break over the Christmas and New Year, but help is still available for those in crisis. Phone counselling service OUTLine NZ will be staffed by volunteers during most evenings between 6-9pm over the next two weeks. Their number is 09 303 3584, or a free call nationwide on 0800 OUTLINE (688 5463). The NZ AIDS Foundation's Burnett Centre in Auckland, Awhina Centre in Wellington and South/Te Toka Centre in Christchurch will be closed until Monday 11 January 2010. If you are concerned about any sexual encounter over the holiday period, you can call 0800 80 AIDS (2437) for recorded general information about HIV and other STIs or to be transferred to a telephone counsellor. Otherwise, Sexual Health Centres around New Zealand contact details on the details here. The Rainbow Youth Centre on K' Road closed for Christmas this week and is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday 5 January. Both Auckland's Charlotte Musuem for lesbians and Wellington's LILAC lesbian library are closed as they prepare to open in new locations in early 2010. LILAC has found new premises at 64 Cambridge Terrace, opening on Saturday 16 January.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Thursday, 24th December 2009 - 10:52am