Proud: Celebrating Queer Wellington

October 7 - 14, 2006
Proud
Celebrating Queer* Wellington

UniQ Victoria—the representative group for queer* students at Victoria University—is proud to announce the details of Proud 2006, Wellington’s queer pride week.

Proud 2006 is organised by UniQ Victoria and takes place between 7 and 14 October, with a whole range of activities and events on the campuses of both Victoria and Massey Universities as well as throughout the Wellington CBD.

Nicole Skews, coordinator of UniQ Massey says, “This year we’re working with UniQ Victoria to make Proud 2006 bigger and better! By combining our two groups and resources it means we can put on better events and promote them better, as well as raise queer awareness.”

Events during Proud 2006 include a high school prom-themed ball to open the week at the James Cook Hotel. There are also workshops on at the Victoria University Kelburn campus, a movie screening at The Film Archive of Squeeze—the first ever gay-themed New Zealand movie, quizzes, community forums, beauty workshops and closing the week is the spectacular Oriental Disco.

Proud 2006 is supported by Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association, Massey University Wellington Students’ Association, Wellington City Council, Frozen Flame Media, GayNZ.com and the New Zealand AIDS Foundation.

*Queer is a reclaimed word representing sexuality and gender diversity. We use it to encompass lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, fa'afafine, asexual, and takataapui identities, as well as everyone in between. This word is used by many people, but we acknowledge that it’s not the preferred term for everybody.

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Just one last dance!

“High School Prom”
James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor
The Terrace
8 pm, Saturday 7 October 2006
$25 from Cosmic Corner

UniQ Victoria is opening Proud 2006 with one of the most glamorous events on Wellington’s queer calendar—the High School Prom.

UniQ Victoria Co-president Will Howell says this is the first ball UniQ has ever hosted. “We thought it would be a great idea as many queer youth don’t attend their own balls or can’t take a partner of the same sex as they may not be out or the schools may frown upon it, so we thought this could be a great way to ensure everyone gets to—a glamorous way to kick off a glamorous week.

High School Prom is open to everyone, young and old, and features Hiptet, one of Wellington’s most revered live bands, as well as a DJ playing classic gay anthems and some slow jams for those wanting to get a bit romantic.

Will says the traditional Prom King and Queen will be awarded on the night too. “We’re just not sure how we’re going to award that as we expect there to be boy and girl, boy and boy, girl and girl couples, so it may just be Best Frock and Best Pants!”

Sponsorship has kept the cost of the ball to a low $25—and that includes a delicious stand-up buffet. “We’re especially grateful to the New Zealand AIDS Foundation,” says Will. “They’ve provided us with sponsorship money to help keep the cost of the Prom down and to promote their key messages to an impressionable audience.”

Tickets are available from Cosmic Corner, the VUWSA office and at UniQ meetings and a limited amount on the door at $30. Rachael adds,”Because tickets are limited we urge people to get in quick so they don’t miss out!”

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Before Brokeback

“Squeeze”
The Film Archive
Cnr Vivian and Taranaki Streets
6:30 pm, Wednesday 11 October 2006
$8 / $6 students

As part of Proud 2006, UniQ Victoria has teamed up with The Film Archive for a special screening of Squeeze. This is also part of the Film Archive’s CONTENT MAY OFFEND series of New Zealand feature films notorious for the censorship controversies they caused.

Released in 1980, Squeeze, met with the ire of Patricia Bartlett and the Society For the Promotion of Community Standards. While the Society was unsuccessful in having the film banned, an organised campaign prevented Squeeze from obtaining funding from the newly established Film Commission. The Society also persuaded the Government to add a new clause to the Commission’s legislation, requiring it to take account of ‘public decency’ in any future funding decisions—this legislative requirement stills stands.

Don’t miss your chance to see one of the most controversial Kiwi films ever, focusing on homosexuality for the first time ever in New Zealand cinema and released at a time when homosexuality was still illegal.

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What is Mount ‘Suvius?

“Test The Queer Nation”
Blue Note Bar
Cnr Vivian and Cuba Streets
7 pm, Thursday 12 October 2006

What year was homosexual law reform? Who introduced the civil union bill? Who is the gay boy in the newly created New Zealand Boyband? Perhaps these are some of the questions that will be asked at the second annual UniQ Victoria Test The Queer Nation quiz night at Blue Note Bar as part of Proud 2006, Wellington’s queer pride week.

UniQ Victoria Co-president Will Howell says this that Test The Queer Nation is one of the most popular events of pride week and this year’s looks to be just as big! “The quiz night is always popular with several teams and this year we’ve got a whole heap of great prizes including new-release CDs from SonyBMG, DVDs from Universal, bar tabs and loads more. Plus we’ve got the first New Zealand copies of Dannii Minogue’s new album The Hits And Beyond to give away!”

Test The Queer Nation is open to everyone and includes rounds on every type of subject matter and not just queer history.

“We also have a tasting round which is always a load of fun, but the quizmaster is keeping mum as to what the taste round will be. Last year’s was beer and it was amazing how few people could differentiate the different beers.”

Entry is free and open to teams up to a maximum of four per team. The quiz kicks off at 7 pm so punters are advised to be there a bit early to register and enjoy Blue Note’s unique atmosphere.

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Peaches, poofs, piercings and pink parts

“Hairy Armpits”
Happy Bar, cnr Vivian and Tory Streets
9 pm, Friday 13 October 2006
$5 doorcharge

“Queer/gay music” is often regarded as either divas like Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Cher and La Toya Jackson, or guitar rockers like Melissa Etheridge and kd lang. However as part of Proud 2006, UniQ Victoria is hosting a “queer and alternative” dance party at Happy Bar on Friday 13 October.

UniQ Victoria Co-President Rachael Wright says, “The basic idea was for a dance party for those who like more "alternative" music. We're going to play stuff like Peaches, Sleater-Kinney, Patti Smith, Gravy Train, Blondie, and lots of new-wave 80s hits! So you won’t hear any Steps, Beyonce or Dannii here!”

The name and promotional material has caused a bit of a stir. Rachael says, “We wanted something that was memorable and would encapsulate both masculine and feminine identities and all that lies in between. If you believe the stereotype, queer girls don’t shave their underarms, so we thought we could play on that and create something really positive out of that!

In keeping with the theme of the night, the dress code is also alternative.

“The queer community is so diverse,” says Rachael. “And we wanna see as many people there dressed however they feel comfortable—so pierced nipples are more than welcome!”

So for everyone who likes to have a good dance but is bored of housey and electronic music, come along to Happy Bar from 9 pm on Friday 13 October and boogie on down with other like-minded individuals.

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Here come the gay-shas!

Oriental Disco
iMerst, 13 Dixon Street
10 pm, Saturday 14 October 2006
$15 presales, $20 doorsales

UniQ Victoria is closing Proud 2006 with what promises to be the queer dance party of the year, Oriental Disco!

Headlining Oriental Disco are Wellington divas Natasha Crowe, La Toya JackSin and Victoria, with special guest star Arabia—Miss Drag Wellington 2006, and joining the queens on stage will be hot dancing boys. The queens are due on stage at 1 am and 2:30 am with DJ Cliché spinning the tunes through the night.

The theme was inspired by a European dance-craze seen in Dannii Minogue’s Perfection video and is best described as “vogueing Asian-style”.

La Toya says “The theme gives us a lot to work with in terms of styling and choreography. We aim to mix the cultures and styles of the Orient with disco beats, and really celebrate the diversity that makes Wellington such a great place.”

“Expect to see geishas, fans, kimonos, bright colours, lanterns, and hot dancing boys with not a lot on!” adds Natasha.

Oriental Disco takes place on Saturday 14 October at iMerst and closes the week-long Proud 2006 Festival. Tickets can be purchased from Cosmic Corner or on the door.

ENDS

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