Category: Events

Sep 16
Elle Kingsbury: Rallying For Trans Rights

Ahead of their next trans-rights rally on Sunday, Richard Tait meets Elle Kingsbury, the queer activist who organised the recent rally outside the Michael Fowler Centre, which saw over 1000 people unite to show their support for trans rights. Elle was born in Auckland but grew up in the small town of Onewhero, Waikato. Homeschooled […]

Sep 02
New Zealand International Film Festival Announces First Films

Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF) has today revealed its first six films from the highly anticipated 2021 programme. Fiona Clark: Unafraid, Flee, Memoria, Nine Days, Undine and Zola have been announced as the first of many extraordinary international and local films set to entertain Kiwis when the festival brings its celebration of cinema to 13 towns and cities […]

Aug 05
Aotearoa’s LGBTQ+ History: Winters of Discontent

Historian Gareth Watkins reflects on the events of August’s gone by and explores the impact they have had on Aotearoa’s rainbow community. 29 August 1946 Trail-blazer Dana de Milo was born in Auckland. Soon after running away from home at the age of thirteen, de Milo had a chance meeting with Carmen Rupe in a […]

Aug 05
Family’s Founding Drag Queen Miss Ribena

As a resident drag queen since its start, Miss Ribena is often thought of as the face of Family Bar & Nightclub. With that K Road institution about to turn ‘Sweet 16’, express sat down with the Outrageous one to discuss Family’s enduring success and how she will celebrate it. When we muse about her […]

Jul 28
Rainbow Family Talks Surrogacy And The Growing Families NZ Seminar

In the lead-up to the Growing Families New Zealand Seminar in Auckland, Sam Everingham profiles one rainbow family. When my husband and I were going through the surrogacy process over ten years ago, nearly everyone ventured offshore to locate a donor and surrogate. These days a lot more are working with a local donor and sometimes even […]

Jul 09
Lula’s To Host Born This Way – Big Bottomless Brunch

Celebrating 10 years of Lady Gaga’s iconic album, BORN THIS WAY, The Lula Inn in partnership with Universal Music welcomes express readers to BORN THIS WAY – The Big Brunch experience for experienced brunchers. Taking place on Sunday the 1st of August from 11 am at The Lula Inn, join Lula’s for a GAGA EXTRAVAGANZA. […]

Jul 09
History: 35 Years Of Homosexual Law Reform

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the passing of the Homosexual Law Reform Act in New Zealand.  Historian Gareth Watkins looks back at the lead-up to the bill’s passing and how key New Zealanders have reflected on it since. The legislation was introduced in March 1985 as a private member’s bill and championed by Labour […]

Jun 30
Riffing With Rocky Horror’s Richard O’Brien

As an out-of-work actor, he wrote one of the most successful musicals of all time, now Richard O’Brien is giving back to the community, hosting this year’s Rainbow Celebration Gala. He talks to Oliver Hall about his rollercoaster life, rainbow inclusion and writing a Rocky Horror sequel. On a rainy Auckland evening, express shadows Richard […]