Australia one of the west’s most homophobic countries, says gay film director
A GAY director, whose movie is one of the highlights of next month’s Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival, has told the Star Observer he believes Australia is being “humiliated” due to its inaction on same-sex marriage and the country’s trenchant homophobia stems from a misguided belief in mateship.
Dean Francis, the producer and director of Drown, which has its world premiere at next month’s Mardi Gras Film Festival, made the comments at last Wednesday’s festival launch.
The event, held at Sydney’s Star casino saw organisers Queer Screen showcase the festival’s main attractions including the My Queer Career shorts by new filmmakers and Skin Deep, which was filmed in Sydney’s Newtown district and about the relationship between two strangers thrown together by grief.
Drown, billed as an exploration of violence, jealously and desire, portrays the ramifications for an Australian surf lifesaving champion when a new, and gay, member of the team steals his crown.
“The thing that inspired us to make this film is that we still live in a very homophobic world and in terms of western countries we live in a particularly homophobic country,” said Francis, who also bemoaned the fact Australia could soon be the only country among its peers without same-sex marriage.
“America will join the many other nations that have sanctioned gay marriage and we will once again be left behind and we are humiliated.
“We are living in a fucked up and backward society in so many ways.”
Francis said much of the blame was due to the Australian belief in mateship at all costs.
“The idea of mateship has evolved to the place where you essentially endorse brotherly loyalty at the expense of everything else,” he said.
“Mateship excuses a lot because it is basically an excuse for us to go with the crowd and to not stand up for what we actually believe in which is stifling to the notion of an individual’s identity and, in particular, their sexual identity.
“It’s an idealisation of the Australian male who is straight, who is imposing physically and who goes with the pack mentality there is zero room for sexual or gender diversity.”
Francis said being a filmmaker was his way of challenging the status quo.
He wanted to highlight Australia’s cultural issues of sexuality and masculinity by having one of the lead characters of Drown, lifesaving champion Len played my Matt Levett, embody those stereotypical Aussie traits.
“He is the perfect image, he is the archetypal Australian male and he’s not gay he’s completely straight,” Francis said.
“The problem is that when a gay, hotter, younger, fitter bloke steals his championship he’s angry [because] he’s being dethroned but, more importantly, he’s starts to get a hard-on when he’s around this guy.”
Drown, which was filmed in Sydney and includes some tumultuous scenes on Oxford St, premieres on March 4 at Event Cinemas, George St.
Tickets to Drown and other Mardi Gras Film Festival events, which runs from February 19 – March 5 are available at queerscreen.org.au/mgff
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What a load of crap. We are so lucky to live in this country. Ill be seeing Drown at the festival, ill be happy to provide negative feedback if required.
thank you, a great read even if I don’t see it in sydney
“The thing that inspired us to make this film is that we still live in a very homophobic world and in terms of western countries we live in a particularly homophobic country,” said Francis, who also bemoaned the fact Australia could soon be the only country among its peers without same-sex marriage.
“America will join the many other nations that have sanctioned gay marriage and we will once again be left behind and we are humiliated.”
Another reason not to be very proud to be Australian this fucked-up Invasion Day, and that idea of “mateship” is yet another stereotype that no doubt will not stand up to sustained scrutiny?! :P
Australian society, in general, was much better in the early 1980’s. We have gone backwards severely since then; puritanical and body conscious for a start, and you would never get No. 96 made now.
And prisoner cell block h lol
Where do the middle eastern countries rank, one must ask? Sounds like BS to me. We have our issues, but, by comparison, I think this statement is crap.
TRUE!
The director is conflating and confusing the society with the political machines. One is way behind the other but this sort of loose rhetoric is neither accurate nor helpful
There is more homophobia in Australia than in other comparable western countries. However we GLBT are part of the reason for such a high homophobia level, as we are too passive and not demanding enough. We need to stop playing nice, if we want things to change for the better in our GLBT community we need to work together and fight for it. My gay mates in NZ are wondering why we did not do more to stop Tony Abbott being elected as PM, now we are paying the price.
…“The idea of mateship has evolved to the place where you essentially endorse brotherly loyalty at the expense of everything else,”
Making marriage a benchmark at the expense of everything else is hardly an improvement.
As an Australian I understand the meaning of mateship.
As a gay man I don’t relate to marriage at all. Amongst my gay MATES! we laugh marriage off as just another try-hard fashion statement for scene queens.
This is absolutely true. Australians are homophobic. And we have many politicians more than willing to pander to this homophobia. I find a lot of Australians to be smug and superior when it comes to gay people. Why? They have nothing to be smug or superior about, that’s for sure.
Considering some countries put homosexuals to death id say Australias mild
Steven and Stephen Hooper in the cities there is very little homophobia but western suburbs and rural areas there is alot of homophobia
Australia is in great shape in comparison to a nation such as Russia, in terms of homophobia :-)
OUTRAGEOUS, where did they get this information.
I totally disagree. I moved here from San Francisco and Sydney is hella-gay friendly.
I think Australia IS being ‘humiliated’ on the World’s stage , not because we’re homophobic as a People but because of the Attitude of the Dickhead we have as a PM. Abbott’s sister is an Out Lesbian but he refuses to allow or Understand that individuals of the Same Sex can Love each other and want to marry.
It’s shocking, it’s just below the sub layer of society. Doesn’t take much to raise it’s ugly head.
i could have told u that
I agree … Homophobic, racist, and sexist
Hear hear, I agree, we are bedevilled by these utterly homophobic governments that have been voted into office. Disgrace.
The Director is talking in terms of Western culture. If you look at England, Wales, Scotland, NZ, Canada and 37 of the 50 US states – Western countries we are closely aligned with – then yes, we are way behind – embarrassing and ridiculous government or not.
Yep
Every time a journalist or film maker wants some controvercy they drag this shit out. We are the most Racist, Sexist, Obese, Gay and on and on. Who does these polls anyway?
Australia is also one of the world’s worst nations for laws against homosexuality – due to Queensland’s Sodomy Law (Section 208 of the current 1899 Criminal Code). Only in Queensland can a couple of 17 year olds be jailed (and for up to 14 years) for choosing to do anal intercourse. Until Queensland gets rid of its Sodomy Law the whole nation wears this shame.
Don’t forget the ‘gay panic’ law
Yes and that’s now ancient history. Let’s move on. Youknow I went to MidSummer festival last week and it was wonderful. People of all types. Straights, Gays, Trans, people I dont have a category for and I didn’t see one cop or one anti Gay person. Lets look forward not back! I lived in Qld during the JBP days and get strip searched and smacked around by the Cops…. One of whom was Gay himself. Yes Newman has tried to reverse a couple of laws but there has been a public outcry regarding this. Hopefully he’ll be gone soon after outing that Bastard Allan Jones all funded by Fat Bstard but uknow, nne of us are going to be harmed.
Stephen the Qld Sodomy law is current fact – not ancient history. The current Criminal Code is the 1899 Code – with amendments. The Sodomy Law was introduced in November 1990 in the same Bill which decriminilised sex between adult (18 and over) men. This happened even though the PCJC Report had recommended a truly equal age of consent at 16. Labor tried to fix that law with the many changes in their “1995 Revised Criminal Code” , however in 1996 the incoming Borbidge LNP immediately repealed the new Code, re-installed the 1899 Code and revamped it to their own liking – including doubling the penalties for sexual offences, including the Sodomy Law. All the “forward thinking” in the world will not protect a youth prosecuted for sodomy in Queensland. “Consent” is not allowed as a defense in Court to this particular crime. Also Education Queensland rules are that if a school counselor or other staffer become aware that a student is involved in sodomy under the age of 18 then a report must be made directly to police (no negotiation with parents on the issue). The Sodomy Law also stops same sex sexuality from being properly included in sex ed and relationships education in Queensland schools. It is a serious problem which cannot be dealt with by accentuating the positive.
It’s the government that’s homophobic (and elitist, inhumane, uncompassionate and without a social or moral compass).
Yup but to be fair the Australian public voted for it…
It’s the government giving Australia this title, not individuals.
We just have a homophobic prime minister that’s gives this great country a bad name.
The majority of Australians are not homophobic. It’s just the vocal minority that is heard. 70 plus percent of Australians support marriage equality.
Is it for real Adrian ? Or bunch of bs?!
Completely disagree with the director. He’s exaggerating the level of homophobia, and yes we don’t have same-sex marriage (yet), but society is so much more accepting than it was even 10 years ago.
Israel don’t have (yet) civil marriage as well and it for both same sex and straight couples so I don’t think it can necessarily prove if the countries are homophobic or not. Happy Australia Day!
Really?
What a load of crap!
Exactly – Australia is among the top 10 *least* homophobic countries in the world
http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/the-top-ten-list-of-least-and-most-homophobic-countries-may-surprise-you/discrimination/2014/04/17/85915
We’ve still got a long way to go though, mate.
Australia is very homophobic!
Well I dont know where you live or how you’ve lived your life but I’ve live all over Australia and have 99% of the time found it not to be. We have the biggest gay march in the world without anyone being killed, we can live together, we have laws getting stronger for totally equal rights all the time and once this dickhead Abbott’s beheaded they’ll be a change for Marriage equality, which personally I think is just a religious construct anyway.
Bullshit. I’m a proud hot Aussie poofta, deal with it, i can.