Big Gay Out is an LGBTQ festival in New Zealand. It has been running in Auckland since 2000. The event was founded by the Hero Festival, but is now organised by Burnett Foundation Aotearoa.
During the event, Mr Gay New Zealand is chosen.
History The Big Gay Out was initiated by organisers of the Hero Festival, and was a play on words mimicking the music festival; Big Day Out. The event is always held at Coyle Park, in Point Chevalier. Organisers of the event stated that its location was intended to get back at former mayor Les Mills, who resided nearby and had a history of opposing pride events.
In 2003, leadership of the event passed from the Hero Festival to the NZ AIDS Foundation (now known as the Burnett Foundation Aotearoa). Since the changeover, the event has been used to promote HIV awareness and STI testing.
Several hundred people were in attendance at the first Big Gay Out in 2000. This figure has since increased to between 12,000 and 15,000 attendees.
Political influence The Big Gay Out has always attracted political attention, with protests being common in the early years from fundamentalist Christian groups.
In 2004, whilst the New Zealand Government were considering introducing the Civil Unions Act, the Big Gay Out hosted a commitment ceremony where six gay couples exchanged rings. Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard attended the Big Gay Out in 2005 and apologised for his past criticism of the civil union reforms.
In 2016, Prime Minister John Key made his annual appearance at the Big Gay Out, but was booed off stage by anti-Trans Pacific Partnership protesters. Despite the group of roughly 30 protesters, John Key received positive feedback for his attendance at the festival.
In 2024, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was protested at the event by trans rights activists and pro-Palestine activists.
In January 2025, Burnett Foundation Aotearoa announced that MPs won't be taking the mainstage at the event “as organisers rethink how they engage with politicians.”
In 2026, the activist group Rainbow Action Tāmaki planned to "drown out the voices" of right-wing politicians speaking on the mainstage at the event. The comedian Janaye Henry withdrew from her scheduled performance, saying in an Instagram video, “I think it is irresponsible to platform someone who has caused grievous harm to the community on a day that is meant to be about celebration,”. Rainbow Action Tāmaki led chants including "National off the stage" and condemned the decision by Big Gay Out to "platform right-wing transphobic, racist, and genocide enabling politicians" at the event. The group held a banner reading "Drown out the voices that drowned out ours" and cardboard signs at the event included "Big Gay Out not bigot day out". Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick acknowledged the protest and said there was “a lot of righteous anger because people are aware of the things this Government has done”.
Postponements and cancellations The 2018 Big Gay Out (scheduled for 11 February 2018) was cancelled due to severe weather conditions. This was the first cancellation in the history of the event.
Part-way through the Big Gay Out 2021, it was announced that three cases of COVID-19 had emerged in South Auckland. Mayor Phil Goff learned of the outbreak on his way to the event, but was advised that the event could continue. The following day, Auckland went into a three-day lockdown.
On 19 January 2022, it was announced that for the second time in Big Gay Out history, the event would be cancelled. This was due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.
The Big Gay Out 2023 was postponed until 12 March due to flooding damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Headlining Acts and Attendance YearDatesAttendanceHeadlinersAdditional Notes1999February 1999"a couple of hundred" The Outrageous Miss Ribena2000February 2000"a couple of hundred" The Outrageous Miss Ribena2001UnknownUnknownUnknown2002UnknownUnknownUnknown200316 February 20038,000 - 10,000Unknown20048 February 200410,000Unknown2005UnknownUnknownUnknown200613 February 2006Unknown Miss K Miss Buckwheat Mahinārangi Tocker The Morrisons200711 February 200712,000 Boyband Mahinārangi Tocker Kneel Halt Buffy and Bimbo200810 February 20086,000 - 7,000 Miss Buckwheat Cindy of Samoa PulseLow attendance attributed to poor weather.20098 February 200910,000 Razor Queenie Cindy Of Samoa201014 February 201012,000 Sarah Lambourne (Flirt) Opening Karakia NZ Quilt Project Tess Tickle Dykes on Bikes The Aroha Festival Launch! Get it on! with your significant others Kids & Dogs Ramon Steven Oates Finale Restaurant & Cabaret Urzila Carlson Beaver Brown Larry - 'Signing' Singer Jock Swap & Underwear models Caluzzi Bar & Cabaret Sheba Withers Tug of War Brittany Manu Dolls LA Thompson & Christ Barclay Cindy of Samoa Olaf & Keishia - 'U Want Me' Razor Will C Barling & sexy DJ Stevolicious Annie Crummer201113 February 201110,000 Anika Moa201212 February 201214,000 Zowie Te Roopu Kapahaka o Hokianga Lorraine Butler Sheree Waitoa Finale Cabaret Pearls of Meganesianz Ngaire & Noreen Caluzzi Girls Kamp David D’mynority DNA Spectacular Titch Marvel & the Paparazzi Dolls Razor Manthyng Petra and her Poi Mob201310 February 201315,000 Kids of 88 Brooke Duff Maree Sheehan20149 February 201415,000 African Rhumba & Kwasa Kwasa Ale Abud Held Sonic Delusion Mika X & The Aroha Project Willie & Raymond Sharvelle Charlotte Charlotte Yates Diamonds of Paradise Fine Fatale Kittens of the Internet L.O.V.E Family Bar Dragalicious Lavina Williams Legend Bar Showcase LACE Buckwheat & Tess Tickle Urzila Carlson Caluzzi Girls Good Short Cindy of Samoa20158 February 201512,000 - 15,000 Lavina Williams Emily Williams J. Williams Brooke Duff Pieter T K.OneAs part of the 'Love Your Condom' initiative, 20,000 condoms were distributed to the attendees and 209 people were tested for HIV.201614 February 201610,000 Ahakoa Te Aha Anita Wigl'it and Kita Mean Rowan and Travis Drag King Performance TAPAC - Night of the Queer Alex Farell-Davey Mr Gay NZ Contestants - Question Time Emily Kopp (USA) Ashley Tonga Vallkyrie Family Bar Showcase Annie Crummer Fine Fatale Lavina Williams Luke Bird People Like Us (Musical Showcase) Samantha Jade (AUS) Cindy of Samoa201712 February 2017Unknown Openside Cindy of Samoa Parson James Ahakoa Te Aha Jimmy Moore & Cas.D Tuhoi Henry Lavina Williams The Pop Tarts Charlotte Yates The Diamonds ANJI2018CancelledCancelledCancelledCancelled201910 February 2019Unknown Golfweather Openside Jon Lemmon Julia Clement LEXXA The Miltones Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra White Chapel Jak Burundian Drummers Beth Goulstone Iris G Ahakoa Te Aha20209 February 2020Unknown Mika Haka Courtney Act Fortunes Alae Lizzie Marvelly Randa Hugo Grrrl Medulla Oblongata Kita Mean & Anita Wigl'it Trinity Ice202114 February 202112,000 - 15,000 Chelsea Jade Possum Plows + Maude Morris Half Queen + Coven Jordan Eskra Theia Paige Lady Shaka Jazo Kirsty Sutherland Nicola Tims Marjorie Sinclair Native Bush2022CancelledCancelledCancelledCancelled202312 March 2023Unknown Theia Brady Peeti Hugo Grrl VÏKÆ Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra DJ ZEKI MC ManilaPostponed202418 February 2024Unknown Parson James202416 February 2025Unknown Lagoon Paige Kira Puru Tyrun Venice Qin Sheba Ahakoa Te Aha Janaye Henry House of Givenchy Thirst Trap Ball Auckland Pride Pre-Ball DJ Jordan Eskra Kita Mean202615 February 2026Unknown Jujulipps Dr. D VÏKAE Kia Mean Anita Wigl'it DJ Jordan Eskra Janaye Henry Miss Ribena
Health promotion Burnett Foundation Aotearoa also uses the Big Gay Out festival as an avenue to promote safe sex and develop condom culture in New Zealand. A survey administered during the 2012 Big Gay Out festival determined that those who stayed longer were more knowledgeable and positive toward condom culture and felt that the Get it on! message was an empowering one. Survey participants also said the programme "helped to educate men about safe sex" and "helped them feel good about having safe sex." In 2014, Get It On! was dropped and LYC was adopted as the main message. Love Your Condom (LYC) is New Zealand Aids Foundation's social marketing programme for gay and bisexual men. It addresses a complex mix of attitudinal, behavioural and social change amongst a community that can be difficult to define and reach. The LYC Social Marketing team talks about the programme's history, the challenges they face and what keeps them loving what they do. In 2017, New Zealand Aids Foundation dropped Love Your Condom and created a new campaign called Ending HIV. It has a goal of ending new HIV transmission in New Zealand by 2025. The campaign highlight key points including: Playing safe. Which means safe sex with the use of condoms and taking PrEP. Testing Often. Most HIV transmissions happen with people who do not know they have HIV and have unprotected sex. Testing often will diagnose people with HIV and get them onto treatment which will help stop spreading HIV. Treat Early. Treating early not only protects personal health, but it also reduces the chance of transmitting HIV to another person. Ending HIV Stigma. Stigma refers to prejudice and discrimination towards people living with HIV, their friends, partners and whānau. Even though HIV stigma was at its peak during the early days of the AIDS epidemic, many people living with HIV still experience prejudice on a daily basis.
References
External links Big Gay Out official website