Beaches get a new gay night

Gays and lesbians on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and North Shore will again get a regular night to meet for drinks and tunes.

The first VIDAM party will be held on Tuesday, May 24 at Manly’s The Space venue — and every Tuesday after that.

Event organiser Daniel Nemes told the Star Observer he’d been struck by the lack of options for gays and lesbians on the North Shore and Northern Beaches after moving to the area a year ago.

“It struck me that with so many people living in the area, there was nothing regular for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, anyone to go to,” Nemes said.

“I dwelled on that for a while until I thought that it was not going to happen unless I did something about it myself.”

Nemes said he hoped the party would do something to alleviate gay and lesbian invisibility north of the bridge and help people find each other.

“Since moving to the area I haven’t experienced any homophobia but I wouldn’t say it was a gay-friendly area simply because there is so little that promotes itself as gay-friendly here and that feeds into that invisibility,” Nemes said.

“There are lots of people who aren’t aware of any other gay people on the Northern Beaches and North Shore.”

Nemes said the response to the idea from The Space had been fantastic.

“The first venue I approached wasn’t very keen, so I walked into The Space and luckily both the events manager and owner were there,” Nemes said.

“When I told them what I wanted to do they said they’d been wanting to have something like it there for a long time. They’re very enthusiastic and have been nothing but helpful.”

The first VIDAM party will be DJed by Nemes and another resident DJ. Partygoers can expect a night of house, break beats, tech house and progressive house, but the plan is to mix it up for future parties.

“We’re looking to have all kinds of musical acts — live acts, guest DJs, drag shows — things to keep each night fresh and original,” Nemes said.

Entry to the first VIDAM party will be free and $10 after that.

info: VIDAM party, The Space, 3 Market Place, Manly, 7pm, Tuesday, May 24, then every Tuesday