By DYLAN CLEMENTS.
Aaron and Andy are two gay friends (they don’t date and never have!) from Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city. They’ve had an interest in all things gay since they became close friends at the age of 18. Here are some of their queer career highlights.
UP Magazine
At the relatively young age of just 19, Aaron and Andy raised the cash to launch the first new Kiwi GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) publication in 15 years, UP Newspaper. It started as a Wellington publication with a circulation of 2,000 copies, and soon became UP Magazine, a national GLBT publication with a circulation of around 4,000. UP was published for 4 years, and was available for free from GLBT venues nationwide, or from over 100 stores around the country.
The Glamazons
Aaron and Andy launched and produced a successful drag “pop group” called The Glamazons. The group went on to appear on numberous magazine and newspaper covers (Capital Times, Proud, express, GayNZ Gig Guide, 86) and were featured all over TV, including Breakfast (TV One), Good Morning (TV One), and Nightline (TV3). After performing around the country for nearly two years, readers of GayNZ.com voted The Glamazons to be New Zealand’s #3 most popular drag queens, after Buffy and Bimbo and Buckwheat.
Out in the Square
Aaron and Andy were pivotal in the controversial move of Wellington’s Gay and Lesbian Fair from Newtown School to Civic Square, and the renaming of the event Out in the Square. They’ve both remained heavily involved in the production of Out in the Square since then, with Andy currently chairperson of the organising committee. Out in the Square attracts around 10,000 people each year, and its goal is to keep GLBT people visible in Wellington.
Proud
Proud is Wellington’s GLBT pride festival, which Aaron and Andy have been heavily involved in for the past 5 years. The festival includes many events including film screenings, debates, dance parties, workshops, exclusive store nights, and more.
Camp FM
Aaron and Andy hit the radio waves in 2008 with their weekly radio show, Camp FM. The show is still going strong, after moving from its original home at Munt FM, to the slightly-more-professional Wellington Access Radio. Tune in every Sunday evening from 9pm – 10pm.
Aaron and Andy on the cover of express
Out Wellington Inc.
Aaron and Andy are founding members of Out Wellington Inc., the volunteer organisation that produces New Zealand’s most popular GLBT event, Out in the Square, and Wellington’s pride festival, Proud. Andy is currently chairperson of the committee, and recently produced a successful art exhibition called Under the Rainbow, which raised around $3,000 for the group.
Miss FagHag, Mr Gay Wellington, Wellington’s Next Top Drag Queen
Aaron and Andy launched the first ever Miss FagHag competition in 2007, which was soon produced all over New Zealand (Hamilton, Auckland, Christchurch). They’ve also produced and hosted Mr Gay Wellington and Wellington’s Next Top Drag Queen for the past 2 years, as well as other popular events such as Queer Idol, which discovered #1 selling gay singer Rob Arnold (Boyband).
Queer Awards
- Best Gay Media 2002 from Auckland’s bFM;
- Awarded a Glammy for Best Gay Publication (UP Magazine) in 2003;
- Awarded a GayNZ.com New Year’s Honour for Services to the GLBT communities of Wellington on 31 December, 2009.
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