4.35PM: Auckland mayor Len Brown has just spoken of inclusiveness at the Get It On Big Gay Out, the last of the high-powered politicians to address the huge crowd. Brown says he was elected to become the first mayor of the super city because he stood on a platform of inclusiveness. "That is why I am here today," he said in a none to subtle jibe at his only serious contender in the mayoralty race, John Banks, whose public disdain for glbt people and events was barely disguised during his own terms as mayor of Auckland City. Brown also acknowledged that the Auckland Council is looking into the Mardi Gras concept floated by MP Nikki Kaye. All of the political speeches have been kept short this year and this has been appreciated by the sweltering crowd which has continued to grow as the afternoon progresses. Several entertainment acts are currently keeping the crowd on their feet at the main stage, however there is now an air of expectancy growing for the turn of BGO headliner, Anika Moa. St John Ambulance staff say they have had a "busy but smooth" afternoon with lots of sticking plasters handed out, some cases of dehydration but no significant injuries or medical problems. Meanwhile, Weatherwatch.co.nz says the temperature in Auckland reached a high of 28 degrees this afternoon. 3.45PM: PM AND 'MARDI GRAS' MP CHEERED Prime Minister John Key Prime Minister John Key has made a well received speech from the stage of the Get It On Big Gay Out in which he reminded glbt people that in 2008 when he was opposition leader some had expressed reservations about voting for him. "I promised not to roll back gay rights and I have kept my promise," he said. He also received a positive response when he reiterated the safe sex message underlying the event. The PM introduced Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye as the woman who is pushing for a glbt Mardi Gras parade for the city. The crowd responded with enthusiastic cheering. 3.25: PM MOBBED ON PROGRESS THROUGH PARK Prime Minister John Key has arrived at the Get It On Big Gay Out and has been slowed down in his progress through Coyle Park by a large group of well-wishers and the occasional protester. The PM's progress has been further slowed by a large general media contingent of reporters and camera people who seem more interested in governmental matters than his presence at the Big Gay Out. Mr Key is already late for his speech from the main stage which he is expected to make shortly. Lindsay Curnow and Juliet Leigh 3.10PM: THE HEAT'S ON AND THE VIBE'S GOOD A gloriously sunny day with high humidity and just a hint of a breeze are working their magic at Coyle Park as the Get It On Big Gay Out venue is slowly being transformed into a mass of bare chests and bikini tops. The energy of New Zealand's largest annual glbt event is kicking in with clusters of people dancing and swing to pumping music. Overall the atmosphere is fun and companionable with no behaviour problems reported. "It's such a good vibe," shouted one dancer as he stripped off and glistened in the heat More people than in past years are briefly excusing themselves from the event in favour of a refreshing dip in the sea at the beach below Coyle Park. Meanwhile, parking is at a premium on the roads and streets of Pt Chevalier and the free shuttle bus from K Rd has been overwhelmed with people waiting for an hour or more. However, more buses have been rushed to join the service (see story). 2.40PM: GLBT GROUPS MAKE THEIR PRESENCE KNOWN While the energy and noise swell in the Big Gay Out entertainment area glbt community groups continue to promote their groups and services in the over one hundred stalls at the eastern end of Coyle Park The group trying to raise support for the establishment of a Lesbian Elders’ Village is running a “peep show” where you can take a look at one of their dreams for the complex, in exchange for a gold coin donation. Arafelle One talks with GayNZ.com's Jacqui Stanford Arafelle One is relaxing in the shade of the Lesbian Elders Village tent, where she and her cohorts are raising awareness of their project, which started three years ago. They have made plenty of progress, now being and incorporated society with charitable status. “We know what we want,” she says. “A village for 100 women. And we want all the community facilities. We want everything really. We’ve got this big dream and now we’re really out to get the money to finance it and do it.” 1.40PM: POLITICIANS He said it's a fun day which comes with a serious safe sex message: "Get It On. That's The New Zealand AIDs Foundation's message. And that's something I hope everybody's taking on board." "We're here every year', he says of the strong Labour presence. "And we're here very proud of our record in support of the rainbow community. We don't come here to smile and wave and ask for the support of people when we vote against their rights, like one or two other political leaders I can think of." The Labour turn out is incredibly strong but nobody representing National has yet been sighted yet by GayNZ.com Daily News. The park is continuing to fill up with a mixture of families, groups of friends, straight sightseers and dogs. Tess Tickle and Steven Oates continue to warm up the crowd .. the first act the Manu Dolls were introduced with a couple of technical hitches as the performers didn’t seem to be ready, but Tess and Oates managed to ad lib their way through. An early on-stage hit has been the Kamp David group from Wellington. Dressed in nuns' habits they tweaked a popular drag anthem, singing Sisters Are Doing It To Themselves, to cheers and laughter from the lesbians in the crowd. Labour MP Maryan Street has been enjoying mixing and mingling with the crowd. She is advising people to deal with the heat by staying in the shade as much as possible and finding the breeze. “It’s fantastic," she says. "I lived in Auckland for twenty years so this is a place of ‘hello, hello, lovely to see you’. It’s nice just catching up with old friends. It’s fantastic. Because I live in Nelson now. They’re wonderful there, wonderful queer communities in Nelson. But this is just lovely.” Tess Tickle and friend ready to launch the BGO 1.20PM: LOUD PROUD PINK TESS LAUNCHES BGO With a roar of a hot throbbing dyke bike and wearing eye-shattering pink, drag performer Tess Tickle has worked her way through the crowd to the main entertainment stage to officially launch the Get It On Big Gay Out. After drawing hundreds of followers to the audience area she was joined on stage by the first of the afternoon's comperes, Steven Oates - also in pink, and proclaimed the picnic and party day open to loud cheers and applause. Maryan Street and Louisa Wall So far most of the rapidly swelling crowd have been content to stake out their base camps around the Coyle Park and hit the food and drink stalls. Glbt politicians are starting to appear, including Labour MPs Maryan Street and Louisa Wall who are adding their presence to the Labour party stall. Wellington OutGames co-chair David Hindley is also at the park, and he and several of his fellow the OutGames organising team are raising the profile of next month's huge sporting, cultural and human rights event from a colourful stand. 11.20AM: EARLY CROWD FLOCK TO COYLE PARK Even before the gates officially open more that a thousand people have gathered for the Get It On Big Gay Out, heralding what looks set to be a bumper picnic and party day for glbt people and their friends. Constables Rebecca Parker, Rachael De'Ath and Amy Weston, with official friend Tash Dallow and unofficial police dog Tui. Inner-city Auckland's Coyle Park is ablaze with colour, the air is rich with the smells of cooking food and community groups are putting the last minute touches to their displays and stands. Music is already pumping from a number of entertainment areas and children and dogs are exploring while their parents meet up with old friends and the occasional ex. The NZ AIDS Foundation has a major presence, particularly with its GAPSS tent in which it is encouraging gay and bi men to fill out an anonymous survey form and leave a saliva sample in order to create a better understanding of the spread of HIV in our communities. Family groups of all kinds have taken up favoured picnic positions, generally around the perimeter of the park at the tip of Pt. Chevalier. And already the temperature and humidity are high. "Sunscreen, shade and water bottles will be what gets me through," says long-time Burnett Centre manager Wayne Otter, often made up glamorously as drag diva Miss K but this morning only sporting the merest hint of white across the nose. Some of the many stalls set up and ready to go Supporters of Lindsay Curnow and Juliet Leigh, the Northland couple whose business was burned down after anti-lesbian graffiti was scrawled over their home, are loading up a plant stall. And the Ponsonby fire brigade has just arrived with loaded water tanks ready to spend the day sluicing the waterslide and spraying over-heated kids of all ages. Police officers, gay and straight, are already a presence, mixing and mingling with the gathering crowd and handing out specially printed rainbow coloured wristbands emblazoned with the message "Stand tall - be proud... Safer Communities Together." Parking near the park is already at a premium and will become more difficult as thousands more people arrive. A free air conditioned courtesy bus has started shuttling from Karangahape and Ponsonby Roads to the park and back. GayNZ.com is bringing you live reports throughout this afternoon as the Big Gay Out unfolds, with Wi Fi connected reporters and photographers on site. A base of operations for our reporters is kindly supplied by GABA, the Gay Auckland Business Association, in their VIP Hospitality Tent.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 13th February 2011 - 11:50am