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 the 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 12,000-15,000 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.

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

Health promotion

The New Zealand AIDS Foundation's programme 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: