|
| |
|
GAY AND LESBIAN NEW ZEALAND |
| |
|
|
| |
New Zealand has in recent years become a broadly gay-friendly place,
defying the odds in what has always been perceived as a fairly macho
country. Certainly there remains an undercurrent of redneck intolerance,
particularly in rural areas, but it generally stays well below the
surface.
All this has partly come about in response to New Zealand's admirable
recent history of resistance to anti-gay bigotry. Homosexuality was
decriminalized in 1986 and the age of consent was set at sixteen (the
same as for heterosexuals). The human rights section of the legislation
, making it illegal to discriminate against gays and people with HIV or
AIDS, was passed in 1993, with none of the usual exceptions made for the
military or the police. There are officially no restrictions on people
with HIV or AIDS entering the country .
Such is the mainstream acceptance that the New Zealand Symphony
Orchestra is quite upfront about one of its most prominent composers,
Gareth Farr, doubling as a drag queen - though not mid-concert.
Gay and lesbian contacts
Publications Express (fortnightly, $2.50; tel & fax 09/361 0190, express@outnet.co.nz
), sold in almost any decent bookstore, graces the magazine racks of
gay-friendly cafés and is often distributed free at gay venues; it is
the best source of on-the-ground information and a good way to make
contacts. Also keep your eyes skinned for the national bi-monthly OUT !
($5), and the Wellington-based Lesbian Quarterly . The New Zealand Gay &
Lesbian Guide ($6) is available from R Harris, No2 RD, Palmerston, Otago
(tel 03/465 1742).
Travel information The non-profit New Zealand Gay and Lesbian Tourism
Association , Private Bag, Auckland (tel 09/379 0776, fax 303 4262,
secretariat@nzglta.org.nz ) provides travel information aimed at gay,
lesbian and bisexual visitors, and vets businesses for standards of
service and hospitality, working closely with the New Zealand Tourism
Board. Gaytravel Net , PO Box 11-584, Wellington (tel 04/384 1865 &
0800/429 872, fax 882 8246, reznz@gaytravel.net.nz, www.gaytravel.net.nz/nz
) run a nationwide gay and lesbian accommodation and travel reservation
service and also have a branch in Auckland.
Web sites One of the best is www.nz.com/glb/ which gives direct access
to all manner of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender information
including a virtual gay tour of NZ and the New Zealand Pink Pages ,
essentially a collection of linked pages including what's on in the gay
community and a calendar of events all over the country. Almost all
sites of interest can be reached from here, though you may want to go
directly to www.hero.org.nz for the Hero Festival, www.womenz.org.nz for
the Auckland Women's Centre site with links to lesbian pages, or
www.our.net.nz , an increasingly extensive site with easy access to hot-linked
gay accommodation around the country, chat rooms, restaurants, travel
agents and much more.
Where to go
This tolerant attitude has conspired to deghettoize the gay community;
even in Auckland and Wellington , the only cities with genuinely vibrant
gay scenes, there aren't any predominantly gay areas and most venues
have a mixed clientele. Auckland's gay community celebrates its
existence with a glam, over-the-top parade and associated revelry known
as the Hero Parade , a two-week celebration of film, theatre, dance and
sport that culminates in a street parade along Ponsonby Road and an all-night
dance party.
Outside the festival season, places slip back into the groove of easy-going
clubbing. Auckland's scene is generally the largest and most lively, but
the intimate nature of Wellington makes it more accessible and welcoming.
Christchurch has a small number of predominantly gay venues in the inner
city and the fledgling Freedom dance party each February; and Nelson has
a moderately active gay community centred on Spectrum, 42 Franklyn St (tel
03/547 2827). Elsewhere it is hard to find a gay network to plug into;
even Queenstown is quiet, though this is beginning to change.
Out in the sticks you'll be relying on the gay press to make contacts -
unless you can time your visit to coincide with the annual Vinegar Hill
Summer Camp , held just outside the small town of Hunterville, in the
middle of the North Island, from Boxing Day to just after New Year. It
is a very laid-back affair with perhaps a couple of hundred gay men and
women camping out, mixing and partying. There's no charge (except a
couple of dollars for camping), no tickets and no hot water, but a large
river runs through the grounds and everyone has a great time. Around the
same time Takaka hosts the broadly similar annual gay men's Summer Camp
, which runs for two weeks from December 27 and draws around eighty gay
men. Some camp on site, others stay at B&Bs nearby. Check the gay press
for details - or just turn up. |
| |
|
