Pride Centre gets PMT

The Auckland Pride Centre has launched the Pride Media Team (PMT) in an effort to counter negative reporting and promote positive coverage of queer issues. The objectives of the PMT are:
To proactively promote positive discourses concerning all matters related to lesbigay/transgender concerns.
To proactively promote positive images of lesbigay/transgender throughout the media.
To respond to negative media discourses concerning all matters related to lesbigay/transgender concerns.
To demand equal, informed and balanced reporting on the part of media.
To let our opponents know that sloppy, misleading, and dishonest propaganda on their part will not be ignored or tolerated.

The Pride Media Team can be contacted through the Pride Centre phone: +64-9-302-0590

Gay Rights Special Rights video in New Zealand

Potter's House, a fundamentalist Christian group, has been screening the American video Gay Rights Special Rights in various locations around New Zealand. At screenings both in Hamilton and Nelson disruptions have occurred.

Kevin Jensen, from Nelson reported that Potters House attempted to show the video 'Gay Rights, Special Rights' but faced protests from a group of about 20 protesters (including gay-friendly heterosexuals who attended as a result of the inflammatory statements on the advertising flyer) present. There were about 20 others present (only half of whom were from Nelson) to see the video - not a very big number for an area with quite a large, homophobic, 'Bible Belt'.

It is no coincidence that this video is appearing during an election year where the Christian Coalition is attacking the queer community in an attempt to gain support amongst the fundamentalist Christians.

Christian Coalition reaches 4 percent in the polls

Last weeks National Business Review poll showed that of all the minor parties the Christian Coalition was the only party near the 5 percent mark. **

Given the Christian Coalition's stated aim to recriminates gay male sex and their attacks on the New Zealand AIDS Foundation this increase in support is of some concern given the lack of alternative coalition partners for the current National Party government.

** Under the new Mixed Member Proportional system operating in New Zealand for the first time only those parties who receive over 5 percent of the party vote will be eligible for any list (party) seats unless they win an electoral seat.

Hero back to basics

The Hero Project is heading back to basics with only a two week festival this year starting on 7 February 1997 concluding with the parade and party on the 22 February 1997.

Scott Johnston said this year no Hero book will be produced but instead the Festival programme, to be launched 20 December, will be enlarged and include a number of articles.

New Zealand gay tourism on line

The Travel Gay New Zealand Reservation Network was launched last week. It provides an information and reservation service that currently covers all gay destinations within the South Pacific region including New Zealand & Australia.

"The New Zealand Gay & Lesbian Tourism Association is very excited at the the prospect of having our members available to the Million plus international gay Internet Subscribers" said the New Zealand Gay & Lesbian Tourism Association Executive Member for Promotions - Malcolm Vaughan. "New Zealand is perceived as a 4 day stopover to Australia and does not have much to offer the international gay tourist" he said. "By having our own reservation service, we can show and provide to the international gay travel market, that New Zealand has a lot more to offer. It will also, make New Zealand Gay & Lesbian Tourism Association a leader in providing gay travel information to international gay Travel Agents & Consultants who already have access to email & Internet Services'.

GLIB launched

Christchurch now has a gay business group with the launch of Gays and Lesbians in Business (GLIB). About 60 gays and lesbians attended last months launch of GLIB.

GLIB joins the two other gay business associations, GAP in Wellington and GABA in Auckland.

Auckland Venues

After last months two week closure of the Staircase, Auckland's only gay nightclub, things seemed to be back to the usual pace. However this week the Bar has been closed with the official reason been due to renovations by the new management. Meanwhile Diva a new lesbian club was launched last night.

Gay TV and Radio

Express Report every Monday 10.00pm on ATV, Capital City, Coast to Coast, Southern and CTV. and repeated on TV One, Saturday 12.30am

City Life, TV2, Monday 7:30pm.
Shortland St, TV2, Monday to Friday 7pm.
The Topp Twins - Do Not Adjust Your Set TV3, Thursday 7.30pm

Radio

Regular gay and lesbian shows

Auckland - G & T Show, 810AM Access Radio, Thursday 7 to 8am
Auckland - This Way Out, 810AM Access Radio, Saturday 11:40am
Auckland - In The Pink, 95BFM Student Radio, Sunday 8 to 9pm
Auckland - Girls Own Show, 95BFM Student Radio, Sunday 7 to 8pm
Hamilton - Different Strokes, Contact 89FM, Sunday 6 to 8pm
Wellington - Gay BC, 783AM Access Radio, Gay BC, Saturdays 11:15 - 12:15
Wellington - Reading Lesbian Writers, 783AM Access Radio,Saturdays, 1.00 - 1.15
Wellington - Lesbian Radio Programme, 783AM Access Radio,Sundays, 10 - 11 am
Wellington - Boy Trouble, 89FM Student Radio, Sunday 6-7pm
Top of the South - Dyke FM, 99.4FM Fresh FM, Sunday 10am
Top of the South - Gaytime FM, 99.4FM Fresh FM, Sunday 11am
Christchurch - RDU 98.3FM Student Radio, has no specific queer show but does have queer news, play queer artists and all the rest as part of their daily programme.
Christchurch - Outwaves, Plains, 96.9FM , Monday 8pm
Christchurch - Lesbians on Air, Plains 96.9FM Monday 9.30 - 10pm (note 9-9.30pm from 18th March)
Dunedin -Dykes on Mikes, 91FM Radio One, Tuesday 8pm
Dunedin -Tea with the Boys, 91FM Radio One, Sundays 9-10pm

Reviews

None this week

Events - Upcoming

Auckland Lesbian Ball - 24 August 1996
Auckland Pride Centre AGM - 16 August 1996 7pm
Auckland City Council Debates queer liaison - 15 August 1996 6pm
Auckland Bisexual Women's Group - 15 August 1996
Auckland Gay Tramping Group - 11 August 1996
Auckland Pride Media Team - 7 August 1996 5.30pm

Auckland Community Church - Every Sunday 8pm
Auckland Metropolitan Church - Every Sunday 7.30pm
Auckland Gay Bowling Association - Every Sunday 5pm
Auckland Gay Space DKD - Every Sunday 4-6pm
Team Auckland Runners - Every Sunday 10am
Team Auckland Swimmers - Every Tuesday and Thursday 8pm, Saturday 10am
Te Waka Awhina Takatapui Kapa Haka - Every Tuesday 7pm.
Auckland Lesbian Support Group - Every Thursday 7pm
Auckland Womens Social Drop in - Every Friday 7pm
Auckland Uni Gays - Every Friday 5pm
Auckland AA Aquarius Group - Every Tuesday 7.30pm

Hamilton International Film Festival - 16 August to 29 August 1996
Hamilton Gaylink dropin - Every Wednesday 8pm

Palmerston North International Film Festival 9 August to 22 August 1996

Wellington Judy Small in Concert - 31 August 1996
Wellington Doods Dance - 30 August 1996
Wellington Lesbian Overland and Cafe Club - 18 August 1996
Wellington Ascent AGM - 11 August 1996
Wellington Cabaret Nite - 10 August 1996
Wellington Lesbian Overland and Cafe Club - 4 August 1996
Galaxies - Wellington - 4 August 1996

Wellington Lesbian Library (LILAC) - Every Wednesday 6-8pm, Saturdays noon - 3pm

Nelson Spectrum - Every Thursday 7.30pm

Events - Previews

None this week

Gay Switchboards and information lines

AIDS Hotline - Auckland +64-9-3580099 Toll free 0800-802-437 24 Hours
Whangarei Gay Help - +64-9-437-7620, Tuesday and Thursday 7 to 9.30pm
Auckland Gayline - +64-9-303-3584 10am to 10pm weekdays, 2pm to 10pm weekends.
Hamilton Gayline - +64-7-854-9631, Wednesday 8 to 10pm
Rotorua Gayline - +64-7-348-3598, Tuesday 7 to 9pm
Napier Gayline - +64-6-835-7482, 5pm to 8am.
Palmerston North - +64-6-358-5378 24 hour answerservice.
Wellington Switchboard - +64-4-385-0674, 7.30pm to 10pm
Wellington Lesbian Line - +64-4-389-8082 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 7.30 to 10pm.
Greymouth/Reefton Gayline - +64-3-768-4366, Wednesday to Friday 6 to 9pm.
Westport Gayline - +64-3-789-6027, Friday 7-8.30pm
Hokitika Gayline - +64-3-755-6270, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 7-10pm
Christchurch Gayline - +64-3-379-4796 Mondays 8-9pm, Saturday 7.30 to 10pm
Christchurch Gay Information line - +64-3-379-3990 24 hour recorded service.
Dunedin Gayline - +64-3-477-2077 24 hour recorded service. Answered on Wednesday 5.30 to 7.30pm, Friday 7.30 to 10.30pm
Dunedin Lesbian Line - +64-3-477-2077 24 hour recorded service. Answered on Tuesday 5.30 to 7.30pm

What is happening on the Internet

Events in Zimbabwe in the past fortnight once again showed how powerful the internet is in mobilising opposition to events which impact on our lives anywhere in the world.

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