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From GayNZ.com New Zealand Daily News
6pm: Police estimate 12,000 glbt people, families and friends packed into Auckland's Coyle Park for today's Get It On Big Gay Out picnic and fun day.
The organisers say their personal highlights include the Sheba Withers performance and a sampling of the talent from the forthcoming Aroha festival which they describe as "dynamic." Annie Crummer is currently performing on the main stage and Cindy of Samoa will bring the event to a close at 7pm. They are also impressed by the staying power of National's Auckland Central MP Nicky Kaye who started in the National booth and "she's still here!"
They were also impressed by Auckland Mayor and car enthusiast John Banks "entering into the spirit of the day" by driving a Get It On Smartcar sign-written with an image of New Zealand enveloped by a safe-sex condom. "He drove it around and said it was fun and surprisingly zippy" the event spokesperson says.
GayNZ.com reporters say the crowd was large, colourful and happy. Most people spoken to had only positive things to say about the Big Gay Out. Mark and Luke, two gay friends in their mid 20s enjoyed their one day a year of doing drag. "It's great fun and we love people having their photos taken with us," they said.
A lesbian couple, Crystal and Sara from Grey Lynn, say they come to the BGO every year but wish there were more activities aimed at lesbians. "There were lots of drag queens and boys things but not enough for women," they commented. But they seemed to be having a great day and were pleased that the George FM party tent was bigger this year and in a location that attracted more people. "We loved dancing with more people this year," they said.
Nathan, a mid-40s gay tourist from Canada, was also enjoying himself. He said the BGO was smaller than some similar events he has been to in his home province of Ontario, "but it's a lot more relaxed, it's great to see the mix of ages and families here too." The highlight of the day for Nathan was meeting Prime Minister John Key and being photographed with the PM. "More world leaders should come to these kind of events," Nathan suggested.
3.30PM: Predictable speeches and colourful parasols Politicians have just finished addressing the Get It On Big Gay Out crowd from the main entertainment stage, delivering a series of short and predictable speeches.
Prime Minister John Key told the crowd "It's not the day for long speeches... for the next few years or however long we are in government we'll be working to make New Zealand stronger." [Key's full on-stage speech is on the video at the bottom of this page] He received polite applause, as did Labour leader Phil Goff who restated Labour's commitment to glbt issues after Chris Carter listed the party's legislative initiatives which have benefited gays.
Newly-arrived gay American ambassador David Huebner is also at the Big Gay Out. He took a moment to be photographed with the gay and lesbian Labour MPs. Prior to the politicians' speeches comperes Buffy and Bimbo and Steven Oates have been hosting entertainments, including a dog and owner look alike competition and a kids' makeshift drag pageant.
A notable feature of this year's Big Gay Out has been the number of people sporting camp and colourful parasols providing protection from the sun, which continues to break through the cloud cover, and insurance against the lessening threat of light rain.
2.30PM: Key relaxed, Banks nervous, at BGO Two of the country's highest ranking conservative politicians have been working the crowd at the Get It On Big Gay Out this afternoon, one appearing relaxed surrounded by glbt people, the other clearly ill at ease.
GayNZ.com reporters understand that several people had been less than complementary to Banks, who has a long history of anti-gay politics and broadcasting. However, when asked by our reporter Banks said he felt "very good" at the Big Gay Out and "everyone's been nice to me." The NZ AIDS Foundation managed to get Banks behind the wheel of one of their Get It On signwritten mini-cars for a staged photo op. A full contingent of gay and lesbian MPs and those who have traditionally attended gay events are now circulating around the park. They include Labour leader Phil Goff, gay Labour MPs Charles Chauvel, Chris Carter and Grant Robertson and lesbian MP Maryan Street and the Greens' gay MP Kevin Hague. National is represented by the all straight female contingent of Nikki Kaye, Melissa Lee and Pansy Wong.
1.20PM: Colourful BGO gets into full swing Coyle Park is becoming a sea of colourful people, aromatic food and pumping music as today's Get It On Big Gay Out gets in to full swing. GayNZ.com reporters say the number of people is markedly rising and there are now periods of hot sun interspersed with cloudy periods and overall high humidity. Moments ago the area resounded to the roar of motorcycles as a posse of Dykes on Bikes did a circuit of the park and delivered drag queen Tess Tickle to the park. National MP Nicky Kaye, who represents the country's gayest electorate, Auckland Central, has been on site since midday and senior Labour MP Chris Carter is accompanied by his partner, Peter Kaiser. Labour and the Greens have set up information booths amongst the wide variety of stalls which are staffed by numerous glbt organisations including the Charlotte Museum, OutLine, UniQ, The Quilt Project and the Long Yang club. Although there are few extravagantly costumed folk in the park yet the scene is a colourful one with many children enjoying the party and picnic atmosphere.
12.15PM: Crowds converge on Big Gay Out Hundreds of glbt people and their families are now converging on Auckland's Coyle Park for the Get It On Big Gay Out, part of the OurFest programme of events celebrating glbt pride and diversity. The weather, which had some worried, has largely stabilised with patches blue sky appearing through the cloud cover and occasional welcome skiffs of cooling misty drizzle relieving warm temperatures and high humidity. Despite heavy drizzle and light showers overnight and earlier this morning the park is firm underfoot and the roads and paths have already dried out. Many groups pf people have already set up their picnics around the park and glbt organisations and commercial stall holders have cranked up their food, artifact and information stands. The party tents are already pumping out bass-heavy music and the main entertainment stage is ready to present entertainment and speeches throughout the afternoon. Parking along Pt Chevalier Road is already bumper to bumper as far as Dignan Street but there are still plenty of kerbside parks in the side streets.
10.10AM: Big Gay Out will go ahead as weather lifts Despite damp weather the Get It On Big Gay Out will proceed as planned, according to advice from the NZ AIDS Foundation.
Stallholders, including GayNZ.com, are currently setting up their information and product stands and the entertainers slated for the main stage this afternoon include Annie C, Cindy of Samoa, Mika and Ramon Te Wake. Prominent politicians who will press the flesh at Coyle Park include Prime Minister John Key, Labour leader Phil Goff and Auckland City mayor John Banks, along with most of the country's out gay and lesbian MPs.
GayNZ.com will report live from the Big Gay Out throughout the afternoon.
7.45AM: Weather unsettled, park damp for Big Gay Out Although Coyle Park, site for today's Get it On Big Gay Out, is "a little damp underfoot" the drizzle has stopped and the event is, at this stage, going ahead as planned.
Heavy low cloud and light drizzle are greeting waking Aucklanders this morning but there is as yet no word on whether the huge Get it On Big Gay Out glbt picnic day will proceed. On the video below: New Zealand Prime Minister John Key's speech on stage at the 2010 Get it On! Big Gay Out.
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