From GayNZ

From GayNZ.com

New Zealand Daily News
Auckland's OurFest 2010 will benefit two charities
By GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
15th December 2009 - 01:44 pm

Auckland's new LGBT Festival in February 2010 will benefit respected LGBT charities Body Positive and GenderBridge.

OurFest is now scheduled to run for a fortnight, with the Get it On! Big Gay Out as its centrepiece. It will feature a variety of new events, and close with an elaborate LGBT community Awards Night.

OurFest planner Kent Phillips says he's pleased to announce the two charities which will benefit from the festival. "Body Positive is an incorporated society founded and run by and for people with HIV/AIDS," he explains. "They welcome all people living with HIV and AIDS in New Zealand, breaking down isolation and building a sense of community while being advocates on behalf of HIV Positive people on a national level. They help all HIV Positive people to live fully productive lives free from stigma and discrimination.

"Recently, Body Positive made a widespread appeal for any donations as it has felt the crunch of the recession," Phillips adds. "OurFest has requested that Body Positive use the donation to set up a youth programme to assist the increasing numbers of young HIV Positive people."

OurFest's other chosen charity is GenderBridge, which provides support for transgendered people and their friends and family. "GenderBridge supplies information on transgender issues to individuals and organisations as well as providing a network through regular meetings and social functions," says Phillips. "Anyone is welcome to these gatherings, including friends and family.

"OurFest hopes the donations given at the conclusion of the 2010 Festival can assist where needed in providing the demanding support required for a growing transgender community."

AUCKLAND'S BIG GAY SUMMER

The calendar of events for February and March 2010 is filling up with several events targeting LGBT Aucklanders, including the Big Gay Out, Bears Week, the Gay Auckland Business Association's awards/auction, and even Air New Zealand's Pink Flight to Sydney's Mardi Gras.

Several LGBT community stakeholders have questioned whether some of the new events could be rescheduled to later in 2010. Phillips acknowledges that there are several new and returning events in February "but we see our contribution as acting as an umbrella group to bring all of those activities together in the form of a two week festival.

"We see the BGO as one major anchor event and the OurFest Awards evening as another main event which would bring the festival to a close," he explains, adding that the awards evening is the only event which the OurFest team is organising itself.

"The awards will be for achievements in 2009, and to celebrate those six months later wouldn't have the same impact, in our view. This is a new event so we are willing to revisit the idea next year but at this stage we are planning to hold it on Friday 19 February."

OurFest 2010 is still looking for sponsorship, with the cut-off date for involvement set at Monday 21 December 2009. "By sponsoring OurFest you not only support Body Positive and GenderBridge, but also the wider Auckland GLBT community," says Phillips. "OurFest is a celebration for the community which is supported and organised by the community." The OurFest organising group can be contacted via email: glbtfestival2010@xtra.co.nz.

GayNZ.com's up-to-date guide to 2010's confirmed events so far is here.