Christchurch Pride Week 2005, Christchurch, New Zealand

25-Apr-2005

Christchurch’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, takatāpui, transgendered and inter-sexed (glbti) communities will be celebrating their gains in human rights equality, their loves, lives, and sheer diversity in what is thought to be the city’s first ever large-scale Gay Pride Week.
Running from 6 to 15 May, Pride Week activities range from drag shows, movie nights and a quiz to a car rally, dance party and interactive theatre. These will run alongside more serious issues such as a relationships forum, workshops on dealing with homophobia and the safety of non-heterosexual youth in schools.

The Pride Week will reveal the surprising depth and diversity of the Otautahi region’s community. Organisations taking part include: Gay sports groups, tramping clubs, transgender support groups, dining and social groups, the city’s gay bars and clubs, gay Christians, health groups, student and youth groups, theatre and lesbian radio.

Supported by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation as part of its commitment to “building supportive communities” (part of the Ottawa Health Charter upon which the Foundation’s work is modelled), Pride Week has also attracted sponsorship from the Christchurch City Council, and several gay or gay-friendly businesses in the city.

Pride Week Coordinator Brent Mitchell (South Island Health Promoter for the New Zealand AIDS Foundation) says the week is a celebration for and about glbti communities. The week will also culminate in the annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Service to remember those who have died of, and are living with, HIV and AIDS. In New Zealand men-who-have-sex-with-men men continue to be over-represented as a group affected by HIV/AIDS and many of the Pride Week activities will include messages around pride, health, safe sex, self care and caring for others.

Of special interest will be the “Will you still love me tomorrow” forum on Friday 13 May, exploring love and relationships. Invited guests will discuss emotional, social and legal issues for people in non-heterosexual relationships.

“”It’s a great programme with something for everyone,” Brent Mitchell says, “from youth to those with a lot more life experience, from sheer fun to serious issues about our lives and our place in our community. The main theme will be pride in who and what we are, the promotion of hauora/wellbeing and the celebration of diversity.”
Ref: - Christchurch Pride Week