Fun and funds at Big Queer Nation
It’s styled as the highlight of the mid-year social calendar. But small community groups, not the party set, may well remember next week’s Big Queer Nation best.
The Queen’s Birthday weekend dance party is a major fundraiser for ACON, which will pass on some proceeds to smaller community organisations whose funding is limited.
Up to half of the more than $40,000 ACON aims to raise from this year’s Big Queer Nation will go to other queer organisations, according to ACON president Adrian Lovney.
Probably somewhere between one-third and a half, depending on how much we raise, will go to small groups, Lovney told the Star.
ACON raised some $34,000 from Big Queer Nation in 2004, passing on $15,000 to groups including the Luncheon Club and The Quilt Project.
We generally give grants of around $2,000 or $3,000 and a fair-sized majority of them usually go to other HIV/ AIDS service organisations, Lovney said.
We’ve also given money to some small gay and lesbian groups in regional NSW that generally don’t have any funding at all.
We hope to do that again.
ACON would devote its portion of Big Queer Nation takings to community priority areas, which include crystal meth education programs and HIV/AIDS-related trials, Lovney said.
Meanwhile, drag performer Joyce Maynge will present her Incredi-Joyce And The Incredi-Gays show at Big Queer Nation next week, organisers announced yesterday.
The Incredi-Gays troupe, which won Funniest Entry at the 2005 New Mardi Gras parade awards last month, will feature in a line-up that includes Dutch DJ Ferry Corsten and US singer Inaya Day.
