6.36PM: Bringing the Get It On Big Gay Out picnic and party day official entertainment to a close, singer Anika Moa has paid humorous tribute to her absent, pregnant partner. "Hello fellow gays! Hello fellow lesbians! Moa shouted at the start of her show, driving the crowd to shouts and yells of support. She went on to say that she is "Really, really sorry that my lovely, lovely wife can't be here but she is very knocked up... it was one drunken night and I didn't put a condom on..." With the entranced crowd, "the most colourful I've ever seen," swaying and waving madly in the cooler late afternoon sun Moa has been performing a string of her own songs, including the poignant Running Through The Fire. As she winds down towards the close of the show and of the day's festivities Moa has dedicated her performance "to everyone who's been at Family bar at three in the morning and looked in someone's eyes and fallen in love..." 6.15PM: HUGE CROWD PARTYING ON Inner-city Auckland's Coyle Park is still awash with people and noise as the Get It On Big Gay Out continues on into the early evening. So loud was the music from high energy band Razor, fronted by Kelly Rice, that it is believed they blew out a sound system speaker. Headliner Anika Moa is due to perform shortly. Mingling with the still huge crowd, an 18 year old gay man who has just moved up to Auckland from Greymouth says today has been the best day of his life. There are still lots of dogs and families and more than a few sunburned bodies; and the BGO stalls are still doing good business. The party tents are packed, especially the Urge/Caluzzi tent which has today seen the launch of Bear Week. Like many who have stayed the day four gay Auckland men who set up a sumptuous picnic under a gazebo are looking tired but happy. "We love the Big Gay Out and people watching! says one. "We only come here to perv," laughs another. In the spirit of the day another comments that "There are so many lesbians here, it's lesbian central but that's ok because we love our lesbian sisters!" 5.15PM: CROWD HITS 10,000 GLBTs AND FRIENDS Auckland police are estimating the crowd at this afternoon's Get It On Big Gay Out has hit 10,000 strong. One small section of the BGO crowd at Coyle Park this afternoon A Get It On spokesperson says that the huge crowd is certainly bigger that it has been for the past two years and while the venue is a little more "cosy" with all the extra people the layout and size of Coyle Park are coping well. At this stage it appears the crowd has been well behaved and there has been no sign of the occasional anti-gay protester to cast a shadow on the day as has happened in the past. "There's been no trouble, the drinkers are drinking responsibly and we're getting nothing but compliments," the spokesperson says, adding that the event volunteers are doing "an absolutely great job." The only stress point appears to have been the free shuttle bus service from Karangahape Road which could not cope with demand, leaving people stranded as full buses passed them by. More buses were brought into service and the Get It On spokesperson says the backlog seems to have been cleared in an hour or so. Over five hours into the event few show signs of leaving with many people picnicking under the trees, dancing in the party tents, wandering Coyle Park to catch up with friends, or watching the last entertainment acts, Ramon Te Wake and Razor perform ahead of the day's headliner, Anika Moa. GayNZ.com is bringing you live reports throughout this afternoon as the Big Gay Out unfolds, with Wi Fi connected reporters and photographers on site. A base of operations for our reporters is kindly supplied by GABA, the Gay Auckland Business Association, in their VIP Hospitality Tent.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 13th February 2011 - 5:07pm