Big Gay Out is the name of a non-profit LGBT fair day in Auckland, New Zealand. The Big Gay Out has been running since the 1990s and is usually organised and run by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation. The events title is based on the music festival Big Day Out. In 2012, the current Queen of Vinegar Hill, New Zealand attended the Big Gay Out to promote the camp at the end of the year. In this fair Mr Gay New Zealand World is also chosen. In the United Kingdom, Big Gay Out was a live popular music event, dance party and funfair for the LGBT community, in London. It was held twice, in 2004 as part of London's Gay Pride, and again in 2005 separately from London Pride, both times in Finsbury Park. There was no Big Gay Out in 2006 due to the Europride celebrations, however a third event was planned for 2007, but never materialized. A portion of the profits made went to charities including Stonewall.
Contents
2005 event
The 2005 Big Gay Out had many reformed bands and come-back artists, including:
Goldfrapp in the Popstarz tent
Babyshambles were scheduled to appear but, not entirely unexpectedly, did not show up.
Contestants of the popular show Playing It Straight also made an appearance, as did the 2005 Mr Gay UK finalists. Graham Norton also appeared introducing some acts.
2010 event
Acts on stage at the 2010 Big Gay Out included bands and solo artists, dance performers, and stand-up comedians:
Beenie Man was supposed to be one of many performers at the 2010 Big Gay Out, but he was pulled from the lineup in 2009 due controversial, anti-gay lyrics, including "I'm dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the gays." Despite Beenie Man's efforts to stay in the lineup, Big Day Out management decided that it would be best for the festival if his performance was removed.
2012 event
Andreas Derleth won the Mr Gay New Zealand title held at the Big Gay Out and went on to win Mr Gay World. Prime Minister John Key also attended.
2014 event
Performers and attendees at the 2014 Big Gay Out included:
2016 event
The 2016 Big Gay Out had performances spanning from 12:00pm until 7:00pm, including:
Prime Minister John Key made his annual appearance at the 2016 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.
Health Promotion
The New Zealand AIDS Foundation's Get it on! program 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 program "helped to educate men about safe sex" and "helped them feel good about having safe sex."