Auckland City Split Over Gays

The Auckland City Recreation and Community Services Committee was split over the issue of supporting the establishment of effective liaison between Auckland City and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in Auckland.

Of the five recommendations in the City Council report only two were accepted by committee. The two proposals passed were: That the gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender community be given formal representation in the Safer Community Council structure, and That the city Promotions Committee consider the involvement fo the various diverse communities that make up Auckland, including the gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender communities, in civic events, in consultation with these communities.

These two recommendations plus the original report will now be discussed at the next council meeting.

The committee was divided along gender lines with David Hay (deputy Mayor), Bill Christian and Phil Raffills voting against all moves to form closer ties with the queer community. Astrid Malcolm (committee chairwoman), Penny Whiting and Jan Welch voted for closer links.

Astrid Malcolm used her casting vote to keep the two recommendations alive but voted against the proposal to establish a formal liaison process with the city council.

Rosemary Segedin, spokesperson for the queer liaison council group, was disappointed that this proposal was lost as it was at the heart of the matter. However she was hopeful that the council meeting might revive this section.

Triangle TV tries again

Triangle Television will try again to obtain the remaining UHF frequency in Auckland. In September 1994 Triangle successfully applied for the frequency but was not awarded the frequency when Sky television, a commercial pay network, put in an alternaltive bid. If Triangle is not successful this time it may be the last opportunity for Auckland to obtain a community based television channel.

Neighbours Survey

In a recent Massey University survey into national identity, researchers found that one in four would rather not find homosexuals over the back fence. Next was Pacific Islanders at 19%, students (17%), Asians (14%), people with large families (12%), foreigners (12%), unemployed (11%) and Maori (10%). The survey found that the majority would rather not have as their neighbours ex criminals (65%), drunkards (63%) and emotionally unstable people (57%).

The survey was mailed to 1810 voters between February and April 1996. A total of 1043 valid responses were received. The margin of error is 3%.

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.

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

Dunedin - PRIDE

Despite a much lower turnout than in previous years, Pride '96 was officially a sucess! The highlight was undoubtably the Masquerade Ball on the 6th of July . Creative juices flowed and prizes for best mask and best costume as well as most intimate couple and rowdiest group were handed out. Many thanks to the sponsers of the evening, Munslows Wine, Metropolis Cinema and Pizza To Go Go.

Events - Upcoming

Auckland Gay Tramping Group - 11 August 1996
Auckland International Film Festival - 19 July to 3 August 1996

Auckland Community Church - Every Sunday 8pm
Auckland Gay Bowling Association - Every Sunday 5pm
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.

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 Cabaret Nite - 10 August 1996
Galaxies - Wellington - 4 August 1996
Hutt Lesbian Group -2 August 1996

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

Nelson Spectrum - Every Thursday 7.30pm

Events - Previews

QUEER-FRIENDLY DANCE CLASS!! (Wellington)

Interested in learning a partner dance in a queer-friendly environment? No, you don't need a partner. The Wellington Ceroc Studio is now offering classes with gays, lesbians and bisexuals in mind. What's different is that at these classes, you can choose whether to learn to lead or to follow, whichever you prefer. People will be rotated, so that everybody who is "leading" will dance in turn with everybody who is "following".

Ceroc originated in Paris in the 1940s and developed at the same time as Rock and Roll. It is also known as "French Jive" or even as "The Partner Dance of the Nineties". It was brought to London in the early 1980s, and from there has spread throughout the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Ceroc has been taught in Wellington since 1992.

Ceroc is very similar to Rock and Roll in terms of the motions of the upper body, but the footwork is much simpler. Indeed, the two dance forms borrowed moves from one another throughout their development. Ceroc has also borrowed ideas from some ballroom and Latin American dances, so has become something of a hybrid.

Typically, one dances Ceroc to precisely the music played in most night clubs. This tends to be much slower than Rock and Roll music, so one has time to do a lot more with one's upper body. This makes it a lot more graceful and elegant. It has been described as "two people trying to tie their arms in knots in as many ways as they can", but this is missing the point. It can be fast and exhiliarating, or slow and romantic. There are some very beautiful dip and drop moves, some exciting spins and twists, and some intricate and complicated "walking" moves.

Ceroc has traditionally been the sort of dance where the man leads, the woman follows, and never the twain shall meet. The Wellington Ceroc Studio wants to change all that, since otherwise it would be impossible for same sex couples to learn ceroc. If you're interested, come along and try it out. Tell all your friends. It's fun, sociable, and might be just what your Monday nights have been missing.

Location: Upstairs, 149 Vivian Street (next door to Liks)
Time: Every Monday night, 8:30 till 9:30
Cost: $10 per class
Further Information: Phone Martin +64-4-499-0096

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

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