Join AUT at BGO 2025
AUT is a very proud sponsor of Big Gay Out and is encouraging people to join this iconic celebration of the Rainbow communities at Coyle Park on Sunday 16th February.
Research carried out in 2024 by the Burnett Foundation Aotearoa showed that AUT’s BGO chill out space was one of the most popular activations across the entire event.
The University also remains the only tertiary organisation to support BGO as a partner, reflecting the strength of its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
AUT’s Rainbow Student Inclusion Manager, Elim Ahlers, says, “AUT trailblazed commitment to, and support of, the Rainbow community amongst New Zealand universities.
“We’re promising a fantastic vibe at the AUT BGO tent and are very much looking forward to welcoming visitors and celebrating the day together. Come along and take part in our love note exchange feature or get an AUT Rainbow air brush tatoo,” he says.
AUT is the only university in the country that co-funds scholarships for Rainbow students and was the first to have a dedicated Rainbow Support person.
The University also launched an e-portal in 2023 collating decades of Rainbow research – the first collection of its type in the world. The e-portal is called Ia.