Party time for gay community

The Big Gay Out will celebrate a summer of love this Valentine’s day.

The annual party at Coyle Park in Pt Chevalier has become Auckland’s premier gay event since it began 11 years ago.

The day blends together a celebration of the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities with safe sex messages and regularly attracts about 10,000 people.

This year the Get It On Big Gay Out will focus on the NZAF’s new Get It On condom-use campaign.

The highlight of this year’s festival will be a performance by singer and songwriter Annie Crummer, who has toured
with lesbian icon KD Lang and performed as Killer Queen in We Will Rock You.

One of the event’s favourite attractions, the slip ‘n’ slide will return this year to offset the hot summer weather.

Other features of the day include bands, queer pop acts, dance performances, comedy, African drumming and selected stars from New Zealand’s drag scene.

A free bus service will be running on a continual loop from Ponsonby Rd to Coyle Park between 11am and 8pm.

The Big Gay Out is this Sunday from noon to 7pm.

- © Fairfax NZ News