AUT sole uni sponsor at Big Gay Out
AUT is proud to be the only university sponsor at one of the most exciting events during Tāmaki Makaurau’s Pride Festival, Big Gay Out (BGO), and is encouraging visitors to come along to Coyle Park on Sunday 18th February to soak up the celebratory atmosphere.
AUT’s Rainbow Inclusion Manager, Jessie Lewthwaite, says, “The fact that AUT is the only university to sponsor BGO reflects our strength of diversity and welcoming and accepting culture and that’s what you’ll find when you visit AUT’s fabulous BGO site.
“We’re very proud to say that recent research* shows visitors engaged with our BGO space more than any other sites at BGO 2023 - our airbrush AUT branded tattoos and the love note exchange installation are super popular.
“If you’re not yet familiar with BGO, save the date and come and celebrate what will be a fantastic day.
“The support of so many staff at BGO is invaluable to AUT’s Rainbow community. It has been heartening to see so many staff getting involved, particularly people that perhaps don’t identify as part of the Rainbow community but still want to show their support. It has been amazing to have the AUT community demonstrate their values of equality and mutual respect, irrespective of background or experience,” says Jessie.
AUT trailblazed commitment to, and support of, the Rainbow community amongst New Zealand universities. It was the first Rainbow Tick accredited university in New Zealand and is the only one to have both the Pride Pledge and the Rainbow Tick.
AUT launched a new e-portal in 2023 collating decades of Rainbow research – the first collection of its type in the world. The e-portal is called Ia.
It is also the only university in the country that co-funds scholarships for Rainbow students, was the first one to have a dedicated Rainbow Support person and AUTSA, the AUT Student Association, was the first university student association in Aotearoa to get the Rainbow Tick.
*Big Gay Out Post-event Partner Research, Burnett Foundation Aotearoa.