Thursday 1 October 2009

Media Release – 4 pages – for immediate distribution…

Gay Community Rallies In Recession To Save Phone Support Service

Gay and lesbian people around New Zealand are coming out in force to save the imperilled OUTLine phone counselling and support service.

Already, over $10,000 has been donated since a fundraising drive was announced late last week.

OUTLine October officially launches this Saturday 3 October with collectors shaking buckets for donations in GLBT venues across the country…

Background

Every year, OUTLine phone support volunteers take over 4,000 calls for help from Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people all over New Zealand – via the nationwide 0800 OUTLINE service, plus the HIV/AIDS Hotline and GenderBridge services.

For over 35 years, OUTLine has also been one our most important advocacy groups for GLBT rights, as well as offering drop-in and outreach support for some of our most vulnerable groups.

Due to the recent economic downturn, a funding shortfall has forced OUTLine to make drastic cutbacks to its critical services, which are now in very real danger of disappearing forever.

OUTLine October was established with the aim of raising $30,000 to assist this essential GLBT community service to get through 2009. The funds raised will help to ensure that OUTLine can continue to be professionally managed and that service retrenchment is minimised while alternative structured funding is sought.

Fundraising totals and a calendar of OUTLine October activities will be updated daily on GayNZ.com.

Outline October Collection – Saturday 3 October

OUTLine October kicks off nationwide this Saturday 3 October, with collectors stationed at gay and lesbian venues throughout the night.

Collectors will be clearly identifiable in OUTLine October t-shirts and will be shaking OUTLine October labelled collection buckets.

Several venues will be getting into the OUTLine October theme by decorating with pink and grey balloons – the official OUTLine colours.

Confirmed participating venues include…

AUCKLAND: Family, The Naval & Family Hotel, Flirt lesbian party, Urge Bar, Dorothy’s Sister, Rock ‘n’ Bull, Kamo, Lateshift cruise club, Basement, Centurian sauna, Westside sauna, Wingate sauna

HAMILTON: Shine nightclub, Guyz sauna

ROTORUA: Shampers nightclub

WELLINGTON: S&M’s bar, Club Ivy nightclub

CHRISTCHURCH: Cruz nightclub, Menfriends sauna

DUNEDIN: Bodyworks sauna

In addition to the gay and lesbian venues listed above, OUTLine October donation boxes and buckets will be stationed in many other businesses right through the month.

Confirmed participating businesses include: The Women’s Bookshop, Playle Hairdressing, Il Buco pizza, Caluzzi cabaret, Garnet Station, Manhattan and Occam cafés in Auckland, and Club Q in Palmerston North.

OUTLine October Events

Throughout the month of October, the following events will feature collections and/or act as direct fundraisers for OUTLine…

1 OCTOBER:
DJ Sammy Jo (NYC), Galatos, Auckland

2 OCTOBER:
Fashion Vict-hims, The Naval & Family Hotel, Auckland

3 OCTOBER:
OUTLine October Collection, GLBT venues nationwide (refer above)

4 OCTOBER:
Auckland Community Church Service, St Matthew-in-the-City, Auckland

7 OCTOBER:
GABA Networking, Urban Café, Auckland

9 OCTOBER:
Fashion Vict-hims, The Naval & Family Hotel, Auckland

10 OCTOBER:
Urge Slave Auction, Urge Bar, Auckland
Mr Gay Auckland Heats, Family, Auckland

16 OCTOBER:
Fashion Vict-hims, The Naval & Family Hotel, Auckland

17 OCTOBER:
Auckland Music Theatre presents Hold The Line Please Caller, Westpoint Performing Arts Centre, Auckland
Mr Gay Auckland Heats, Family, Auckland

18 OCTOBER:
Mr Gay Auckland Final, Family, Auckland

23 OCTOBER:
Fashion Vict-hims, The Naval & Family Hotel, Auckland

24 OCTOBER:
Shine’s 2nd Birthday, Shine, Hamilton
Meat Raffle, Club Q, Palmerston North

25 OCTOBER:
Mr Gay Wellington, Garden Bar, Wellington
Underwear Party, Urge Bar, Auckland

30 OCTOBER:
Fashion Vict-hims, The Naval & Family Hotel, Auckland

31 OCTOBER:
Gay & Lesbian Singers present Kiwifruits, Centennial Theatre, Auckland

Give a Little, Help a Lot!

By setting up a $10 monthly automatic payment donation, you and your friends can help ensure that OUTLine volunteers can keep helping troubled GLBT people, regardless of the economic climate.

Bank: Bank of New Zealand
Name of Account: Outline New Zealand
Account number: 02-0108-0124195-000

For more information, or comment from OUTLine board members and volunteers, please contact:

OUTLine Website: www.gayline.org.nz
OUTLine October Updates: www.gaynz.com
OUTLine October on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=142843710492

ENDS

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