With organisers estimating the average age of attendees at tonight's Prism party will be 18 years old, Rainbow Youth's première HERO Festival event could well be the most youthful LGBT dance party ever held in Auckland. The new generation dance party aims to provide a fun, safe and welcoming space for partygoers aged 13 to 20, and is also a fundraiser for queer young people's network Rainbow Youth's social/support groups and education activities in schools. The Prism party will feature laser lights and music featured at some of Auckland's most popular Chemistry and Salvation parties, with HERO Party DJ's Donald Bennett and Marty spinning the discs. Like all Rainbow Youth activities, the party will be an alcohol, drug and smoke-free zone. Rainbow Youth volunteer and GayNZ.com photographer Nemo Craig is a member of the team facilitating the event, and says she's looking forward to the history-making night. "We've been selling quite a few tickets from the Rainbow Youth office, but are expecting loads of door sales tonight too," she tells us. "The youngest confirmed guest will be a guy who's just thirteen. And we've got a few people coming in from outside Auckland to party with us, including two people from Gisbourne." Prism has been promoted as a mainly queer event, but Craig says the party is definitely open for all youth to enjoy and have a great time. "Once the party's over at midnight, people can come and cool down at the Rainbow Youth Centre, only a few doors along from Bacio, while you wait to be picked up," she explains. The Prism party happens from 8pm until Midnight, Saturday 9 February, at Bacio - 309 K' Road. $10 tickets are available on the door.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Saturday, 9th February 2008 - 2:44am