The organiser of a new social group for gay male 'bears' away from Auckland's bar and nightclub scene says he's over the moon that so many people have signed up to attend their first meeting - a BBQ this Sunday. NZ Bears' 'We Want You' poster Paul Mitcheson says he felt Auckland needed a social group "for some of the older guys". "It's just something I'm trying. I've never done anything like this before, so it's all trial and error at the moment," he explains. "Younger guys can join as well, but as people get older in life, things can become a bit lonely - and the gay bar scene isn't always really geared for us older men." Mitcheson has promoted the new group with posters up at K' Road's Urge bar, and with an announcement at their recent Mr Urge NZ Bear 2008 contest. He's looking forward to the group's first BBQ this weekend. "It will help us to gauge what people would be interested in doing, for example, dinners out to restaurants. "It looks like we've got a good response for Sunday - about 40 people are going to come along. It's a good age range as well." Mitcheson says he won't enforce a strict 'just for bears' policy for the group. "It's for anyone who wants to come along and be in a friendly social group, really." For more details and to join the new group, Paul Mitcheson can be contacted via email at: nzbears@xtra.co.nz .
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 24th April 2008 - 10:48am