I am a man. I’m pretty complex, I think we all are. As it happens I’m gay. Which is just as well, because I got married to a man.
I’m a proud gay man. It took years to get here. To take ownership of the sort of man I am, to recognise who I am and to accept it.
That’s pride.
Today is Melbourne’s Pride March, I have attended every year for the last 10 years. This year I’m not marching and I’m not watching. I’m boycotting.
As I’ve often said in this here blog of mine, people like me, you know, the non-hetero-normative types, are often the media’s play things. That’s certainly the case with News Limited publications. They have some key contributors that continually vilify people not like them.
Regrettably Midsumma have a sponsorship arrangement with News Ltd. An organisation that runs the Midsumma Festival and Pride March for the queer community has a deal with a media company that uses gay as a way to drive division in our community.
The right thing for Midsumma to do was to walk away from the deal as soon as it was pointed out to them. They didn’t.
I can’t support that.
I refuse to participate in a Pride March that is run by an organisation that enables hate.
I just happen to be a non-gay man. Which is just as well cause I married a woman. But, Gregory Storer, I love you and Mick and your stance and where you are in your life. You’re a nicer guy now you’re gay.
p.s. I am also lovingly fond of Colin Krycer.