Lack of money threatens gay support body after 16 years

By ANGELA GREGORY social issues reporter

An Auckland support centre for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups says lack of money will force it to close this week.

The Auckland Pride Centre on Karangahape Rd has operated for 16 years providing information and advice on sexuality-related issues.

But the centre, crammed with pamphlets on Aids, condoms and books from Lesbian Psychologies to the Hite Report on Male Sexuality, is about to shut its doors.

The imminent closure comes as increasing numbers of people have been diagnosed HIV positive in New Zealand and amid warnings about "safe-sex fatigue".

Auckland Pride chairman Edward Bennett said the centre started in 1988 on the heels of homosexual law reform and increasing awareness of Aids.

It had since developed to cover other groups such as lesbians and bisexuals.

He said the centre was popular with people who did not feel safe or comfortable asking for information from other agencies.

It took about 8000 inquiries a year and cost about $70,000 to run, including rent, paying a co-ordinator, and general expenses.

Mr Bennett said that so far only the ASB Trust had come through with any money.

It had given $12,000 but that was dedicated for new equipment which would be no use unless the rent could be paid.

Mr Bennett said applications for help had been turned down by Sky City and Pub Charity, which said the centre did not fit their criteria.

The centre had also been in lengthy correspondence with the Lottery Grants Board but was repeatedly being asked for more information.

Mr Bennett said the centre twice applied for money last year but kept being deferred.

"If they had just said 'no' we could have at least tried to find other options."

He said the centre could not carry on any longer and already the only paid staff member was working as a volunteer.

"We have run out of money."

Lottery Grants Board acting secretary Morag Osborne said the board was still waiting for an accountability report from the Auckland Pride Centre so it could consider its application in a committee meeting.

She said the board had financed the centre in the past and recognised the importance of its work.

An Aids Foundation spokeswoman, Rachel Le Mesurier, said yesterday that she was not aware of the imminent closure, but pointed out that about half the New Zealanders who were HIV-positive lived in Auckland.