[3] The Big Gay Out has always attracted political attention, with protests being common in the early years from fundamentalist Christian groups.

Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard attended the Big Gay Out in 2005 and apologised for his past criticism of the civil union reforms.

[1] In 2016, Prime Minister John Key made his annual appearance at the Big Gay Out, but was booed off stage by anti-Trans Pacific Partnership protesters.

[5] In January 2025, Brunett Foundation Aotearoa announced that MPs won't be taking the mainstage at the event “as organisers rethink how they engage with politicians.”[citation needed] The 2018 Big Gay Out (scheduled for 11 February 2018) was cancelled due to severe weather conditions.

[11] Burnett Foundation Aotearoa also uses the Big Gay Out festival as an avenue to promote safe sex and develop condom culture in New Zealand.

A survey administered during the 2012 Big Gay Out festival determined that those who stayed longer were more knowledgeable and positive toward condom culture and felt that the Get it on!

Love Your Condom (LYC) is New Zealand Aids Foundation's social marketing programme for gay and bisexual men.