Fun and Esteem

There is a scene in one of the Superman movies where Clark Kent jumps into a phone booth, rips off his business suit and underneath is the lovely tight blue-and-red lycra outfit that showed every muscle and bulge. Clark Kent had a secret double life nobody knew about.
I was able to relate to this story so much growing up. Through the week I was a ‘normal’ boy who dressed in loose-fitting jeans and a surf branded T-shirt. On weekends I would get dressed in the tightest singlet and a pair of jeans that left nothing to the imagination.

I didn’t know many people back then. There were a few people I knew but no one I felt close to. One night I was talking to a guy I had been dancing with and kissing and he told me about Fun and Esteem. I remember how he explained it to me: “It’s like gay school.”
I was nervous as hell my first night. What would it be like? Who would be there? What if I knew someone?

But sure enough I had a great night. I didn’t know anyone in the group but that was OK, I made friends quite quickly. Every Tuesday night for six weeks I would catch the train into the city, stay for the group, go out for coffee and then catch the train all the way back to Penrith.

I have kept in touch with most of the people from my group. Not all — many have moved away but there are a few of us who are still really close.

Tomorrow night (Thursday October 29) Fun and Esteem celebrates its 21st birthday, champagne and canapé style.
If you’ve been a part of Fun and Esteem or would like to be in the future, come along. It’s not too late to RSVP at www.acon.org.au/youth

Hopefully see you there!

info: If you want any information about groups, services, organisations or community events in western Sydney, you can contact Matt Vaughan at ACON on 9206 2064 or [email protected].

Matt Vaughan is the Community Development and Liaison Officer for the ACON Western Sydney Community Development Team.