All over our supercity Auckland Council’s Proud Centres are hosting over 80 free Pride events from sports to drag to thought-provoking discussions. Here are express’ top six picks:
The Proud Centre initiative which aims to transform arts, community and events venues into rainbow hubs, launched for Pride last year and is back bigger and brighter, celebrating Auckland’s diverse queer communities.
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH
A must for Drag Race and House of Drag fans!
Celebrate our up-and-coming South Auckland based queens in an electrifying drag show!
The competitors will slay the runway with costumes they have designed; show off their top talent; then duel it out in a fierce lip sync battle.
Prizes up for grabs, include a trip to Queenstown and a Shortland Street appearance!
8pm, Friday 14, TE PUKE O TARA COMMUNITY CENTRE (Otara Proud Centre)
PRIDE TALKS
A series of Pride Talks will be held in various spots around the city on Sunday evenings during the 2020 Festival. A great chance to join in the queer conversation, hear different points of view, and say your piece!
ROLE OF THE ALLIES
Allies can be found in many movements, supporting the kaupapa of a group or cause and helping form a united front. The LGBTQI+ community needs allies, and are allies themselves, but what role and purpose should that take?
7pm, Sunday 9 – FERNDALE HOUSE (Mount Albert Proud Centre)
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
A reflective look at Auckland Pride 2019 Pride and moving forward into 2020 and beyond amidst a polarised community. What is inclusion and what does the future look like?
8pm, Sunday 16 – STUDIO ONE, TOI TŪ (Ponsonby Proud Centre)
QUEER SCENES
Settle into a bean bag and enjoy free outdoor screenings of some of the best LGBT+ cinema of recent years! All films start at 9pm.
The Favourite – Wednesday 5 – ELLEN MELVILLE CENTRE (Auckland CBD Proud Centre)
Moving Parts – Saturday 15 – NEW LYNN COMMUNITY CENTRE
Bohemian Rhapsody – Sunday 16 – STUDIO ONE, TOI TŪ
MATE ME: DATE ME
Mate Me: Date Me is a Speed Dating style night to introduce you to new mates, or even dates! Get off the apps, and lean into this old-school flirty spirit of Pride and find a new circle of queers – platonic or not.
7pm, Tuesday 11 – ELLEN MELVILLE CENTRE
9pm, Thursday 13 – TE ORO (Glen Innes Proud Centre)
SING!
The team at Body Positive lead this inclusive community event where friends and strangers come together to learn a song and SING! A great way to reconnect with your community, choir style!
3.15pm, Saturday 8 – ELLEN MELVILLE CENTRE
6.30pm, Thursday 13 – TE Manawa (Westgate Proud Centre)
6.30pm, Saturday 15 – NEW LYNN COMMUNITY CENTRE
RAINBOW VOLLEYBALL
Let your competitive streak run free as teams of four battle it out to be the next rainbow volleyball superstars. Volleyball not your game? There are 6 other sports to try over the Festival!
10am, Saturday 15 – TE PUKE O TARA COMMUNITY CENTRE
With so much choice, here are our programme highlights – but check out the full listings on proudcentres.co.nz for events happening right across the city until Sunday 16 February.
