By Jarred Williamson
You’d be right in thinking it was election year. Leaders and MPs from most of New Zealand’s political parties descended on the annual Big Gay Out at Auckland’s Coyle Park on Sunday.
The Green Party, Labour and National all made an appearance on stage, while ACT’s new leader Jamie Whyte was seen amongst the crowd with Epsom candidate David Seymour.
But it was prime minister John Key who stole the show, drawing a large swarm of media and members of the public around him as he made his way through the crowds.
There were a handful of people who weren’t so pleased to see him, some heckling the prime minister and one member of Socialist Aotearoa shouting profanities at Key.
Key said he was pleased he’d kept his promise from 2008 that in government he wouldn’t remove any advancements made by the LGBT community.
The prime minister also voted in favour of same-sex marriage law reform last year.
Labour leader David Cunliffe made his first visit to the LGBTI event as opposition leader and kept the political-speak to a minimum, saying: “We’re not the only politicians here”.
He threw his support behind the New Zealand Aids Foundation in their fight against HIV/AIDS.
Dr Russel Norman, the Green Party co-leader, didn’t hold any punches with his appearance on stage clearly signalling it was election year.
He did, however, throw in some humour in his speech.
The LYC Big Gay Out, in its fifteenth year, is an annual event part of the Auckland pride festival. The event traditionally kicks off the pride festival.
CHECK OUT SOME OF THE PHOTOS TAKEN AT LYC BIG GAY OUT 2014 BELOW. THE REMAINDER CAN BE SEEN OVER ON THE DANNEWS WEBSITE.
http://dannews.co.nz/2014/02/11/gallery-politicians-take-over-the-big-gay-out/
Jarred Williamson 