Newcastle has experienced extraordinary cultural change in recent years to become a cosmopolitan hub, but the scene has long frustrated the local LGBTIQ community for its lack of growth and diversity.
Had it not been for the efforts of the Gateway Hotel, an active ACON, Rainbow Visions and their Rainbow Festival, and various community organisations, there would be little to no queer life at all.
Recently there have been a number of initiatives that have sought to stimulate LGBTIQ life in the Hunter region. One of the first to organise was Metro Entertainment, event organisers Aaron Little and Ashley Doran. With the unprecedented support of the Newcastle City Council, they launched the Australian 鈥業t Gets Better鈥� campaign at a popular club event called Code Newcastle.
More recently Little and Doran created a community website that is at once a what鈥檚 on and a social media site Gay Events Newcastle 鈥� 鈥� supported by the Newcastle Tourism Industry Group in an effort to attract LGBTIQ tourism.
Metro Entertainment鈥檚 upcoming events include the first gay and lesbian film festival in Newcastle, shOUT!, at the Tower Cinemas, May 15 – 17, to coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).
Determined to stop the frequent exodus to the fleshpots of Sydney, another local entrepreneur Wayne Mason has formed Freshh, the name behind a series of dance parties that have raised the bar for entertainment in Newcastle and the Central Coast.
Mason is launching Wig Wars which, over coming months, hopes to discover Newcastle鈥檚 next top drag queen. Hosted by local legend Glenda Jackson with DJ Jimmy James, Wig Wars kicks up its heels on April 13 in the Tiki Bar at the Great Northern Hotel.
In the near future, Freshh plans to have a Sunday afternoon soir茅e at an inner-city venue yet to be announced.
In a city lacking in queer alternatives, a glossy colour magazine The Den has sought to promote both the queer and the alternative. Editors and organisers Nick Kelly and Trine Deans offer a more alternative account of regional Australia, beyond the Hunter which serves as its primary inspiration.
The Den will take over the Gateway Hotel for its next launch, featuring Melbourne鈥檚 The Kill Room and Perth鈥檚 Goodnight Tiger, in an occult-themed night on the appropriately ominous date of Friday the 13th (of April).
All this activity has invigorated established event organisers like The Gateway which hopes to galvanise the community with their new pageants for Mr Hunk starting on April 20 and Miss Hunkalicious on April 27.
Rainbow Visions has promised an exciting refresh of the Rainbow Festival in October, as well as vital events throughout the year including a regular gathering Rainbowlicious and an upcoming comedy night at King St Hotel on May 16 for IDAHO.
INFO:
Gay Events Newcastle
Freshh
The Den
The Gateway Hotel
Rainbow Visions
By KERRY BASHFORD
