Gay marriage’s calendar boy

One year ago, Geoff Field sat down with his new husband Jason Kerr and wondered if they had made the right decision.

Earlier that day, 2Day FM newsreader Field had wed his long-time partner in a lavish Circular Quay ceremony billed as Sydney’s first illegal gay wedding and broadcast to hundreds of thousands of listeners.

That night when I got home we opened a bottle of wine and I said, -˜Jason, I hope we’ve done the right thing,’ Field told Sydney Star Observer last week in the lead-up to the first anniversary of the wedding on 25 November.

There were so many things flying around, like -˜how is the mainstream audience going to take it? and -˜will it be seen as another 2Day FM stunt?’

I was worried that people, particularly in the gay community, would think we’d really sold out.

Twelve months on, Field has no regrets. The wedding has revealed support among family and friends as well as 2Day FM’s thoroughly mainstream audience.

When we were doing the whole getting married thing, I think the last count was 25,000 emails [in support], Field said.

There are still a few that drift in.

It has not all been easy: the wedding prompted some anti-gay sentiment (I have had a couple of what I call -˜loony’ emails, Field said) and the fact the marriage remains unofficial still rankles.

The fact that we aren’t accorded legal rights riles me. How dare anyone say that we’re second-class citizens? Field said.

The couple are planning a low-key dinner to mark a year of married life, but Field will stay in the public eye with an over-the-top 2007 calendar produced as a fundraiser for the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation.

All the shots were fun and so over-the-top -“ me on the Priscilla bus and out at the pound [dressed as a dog] with Jackie O.

I went to see the Priscilla musical on the opening night and two weeks later there I was sitting on the bus. That was an honour.

Other shots include Field camping it up with a buff lifesaver and pole dancing in hotpants and heels.

I sometimes worry that I’m being used as novelty value, but I think there’s a greater good there, Field said.

Some people say, -˜How do you feel about being Geoff, the gay newsreader?’

My answer to that is that I do look forward to the day that I’m just Geoff.

info

Geoff Field’s calendar is available online only from www.kyleandjackieo.com.