Sydney Order of Perpetual Indulgence Canonise Watersports Icon Barry “Troughman” Charles

The Sydney Order of Perpetual Indulgence have officially canonised beloved queer icon Barry Charles, AKA “Troughman”, a moniker and legendary mythos earned through Barry’s bold exploration of urolagnia.

The Australian underground celebrity, renowned in Sydney queer folklore for having enthusiastically laid down in urinals at Sydney Mardi Gras after parties through the late 1970s to the early 2000s, was canonised into sainthood at the Harbour City Bears’ Newtown gathering on Sunday.

The Order’s “Highest Honour”

According to the Order, sainthood is the highest honour that they can bestow, with Barry not only being recognised for his championing of sex-positivity, self-love, and unapologetic sexual-exploration, but his enduring commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ civil rights.

“It is with tremendous pride and joy that the Sydney Order of Perpetual Indulgence announce the canonisation of one of Sydney’s most beloved, outrageous and extraordinary queer icons,” said a spokesperson for the Order. 

“Barry is one of the most passionate, fascinating, outrageous and genuinely beautiful souls you could ever hope to meet. A proud 78er, a lifelong gay rights activist and a former leader of the Gay Rights Lobby, Barry was fighting for our freedoms long before many of us were born.”

Watersports Is Activist, & Troughman Showed Us How

The Order went on to acknowledge that Barry’s famous sexual proclivities are not a salacious tangent to his activism, but rather a core component of his lifelong pioneering of LGBTQ+ rights.

“Beneath the wonderfully naughty legend is something profoundly important,” said a spokesperson for the Order. “Whilst the more respectable corners of our community have increasingly found acceptance, we must never forget the sexual radicals who stood at the very front of the fight for liberation. 

“Those who refused to hide, refused to apologise and refused to accept that their sexuality was something shameful. Barry has famously been one of these radicals, and we celebrate him for it.”

Most recently, Barry’s radical activism has translated to his hosting of Newtown’s queer living history walks, ensuring that the stories, struggles and triumphs of those who came before us are never forgotten.

“Barry has given so much to our community, not just through his activism, but through his generosity, his stories, his warmth and his unapologetic approach to life. The Sisters could not be more honoured to bestow our highest recognition upon someone so thoroughly deserving.  So, as the Great Mother Dingo raises her hind leg and showers him with blessings of thanks and love, the Order of Perpetual Indulgence proudly presents, Saint Barry the Golden!”