The celebration of being gay in New Zealand has come a long way from the early days of the Hero Parade in Auckland. Back then it was a televised event, pushing the boundaries as to what was "tasteful television".
Now, the community is larger. It's LGBTI, and probably a few more letters on the end too.
Starting this week, Auckland holds the annual Pride Festival.
Marketed internationally as the perfect warm up to Sydney's Mardi Gras, it's more boutique than it's Australian cousin.
The Pride Festival does have it all. From garden walks to events that are quite literally a bit more in your face. We won't go there, but it's there if you want to look for it.
If you fancy celebrating New Zealand's diversity, then here's a handful of events we recommend you check out.
Auckland Pride Parade 6pm, February 20
This year the parade is flipped on its head and will start at Three Lamps, heading south along Ponsonby Rd and will end in front of a special stage set up at Western Park. The parade is the keystone event of the festival, showcasing talent and organisations from across the community. It's no Santa parade, but it's still family friendly.
Auckland Pride Debate 8pm, 12 February Galatos, 17 Galatos St, Newton, Auckland Ticketing Agents: Body Positive, The Women’s Bookshop and Garnet Station
This debate started small a few years ago and has grown to become my favourite event in the entire festival.
Auckland Central MP's Nikki Kaye and Jacinda Ardern lead teams including David Seymour and Urzila Carlson. This year's moot: Size does matter?
I'll leave it to the comedians to pun their way through that question, but I recommend you check this hilarious event out.
LYC Big Gay Out 14 February 12 -7pm Coyle Park, Ponsonby
It's a bit like Christmas in the Park, but minus the Christmas and adding a few drag queens. The big Gay Out in Point Chevalier provides the most open and diverse gathering of people of any event in our city. With live music, entertainment and comedy on stage all day, special pop-up bars and even a lube slide staffed by the friendly firefighters from your local fire station.
Legacy Project 3 9 -13 February, 8.00pm Q Theatre LOFT, 305 Queen Street, Auckland CBD Price: Adult: $20 Concession: $15
The Legacy Project is a unique story-telling experience where people submit their stories of how they fit in to the LGBTI community and a group of writers, directors and actors knead it in to a short punctual piece of theatre. This year, the stories range from hook-ups gone wrong to the age-old problem of finding the motivation to clean your room.
WOOF! The Auckland Pride Dog Show 2pm Sunday 7th February Western Park (Lower End – Freeman’s Bay, Auckland)
Paws for a moment. Just picture it. Dogs dressed up and ready to hit the catwalk...so to speak.
It's the Pride event that's perfect for a hot afternoon out with your family and your dog. Celebrity judges including Alison Mau will join members of the Shortland Street cast in judging Auckland's best dressed and most well behaved dogs. There's a few other entertaining categories. I recommend taking a water bowl for your dog, a water bottle for yourself, a sun hat, and some coins to donate to the SPCA. Newshub will be there too to make sure your pets get famous.
Newshub
