The SSO A-Z guide to queer Sydney
H is for:
Heroes We gays loves a hero. Whether this love manifests itself in fireman fetishes, a secret comic book crush or a yearly slide into Mardi Gras party lycra, one thing is clear: We’re not shy about it.
Heroes can be found on TV (the new hit show Heroes features a put-upon, probably gay character who is tormented about an alleged erection he got in the change rooms), in the courtrooms (where Supreme Court justice Michael Kirby defends the rights of all) and in the Mardi Gras parade -“ which was rumoured to be following the theme heroes this year.
A perfect choice, if only for the ready-built soundtrack of David Bowie’s Heroes . As he sang, the parade puts the shame -¦ on the other side and lets the paraders be heroes, if just for one day.
Holding The Man Leaving even the burliest of grown men in tears with a desperate need to be hugged, Timothy Conigrave’s Holding The Man is gay Australia’s perennial favourite love story. The memoir spans 15 years of Tim and John’s relationship from the hedonistic 1970s to its tragic finale.
Yet for many gay boys it is still the stuff of daydreams: teenage thespian geek meets hunky school football captain. The enduring romance even has appeal to lesbians with its aching separations, tumultuous reunitings and temptations at every turn. Older members of the community see their own stories of secret liaisons, disapproval and living under the spectre of a mysterious plague.
The wrenching tale lives on for young people as a gay rite-of-passage, an adolescent-friendly reminder to a generation bombarded with condom warnings but little first-hand experience. But the heart-affirming true account of young romance against the odds holds the key to the book’s universal appeal and lasting popularity.
Even without international awards and praise, Australians would still have cherished Conigrave’s story for having the balls to stand proud. That community support is now spilling over into the sell-out theatrical adaptation playing as part of the Mardi Gras festival, the hot ticket item for every self-respecting gay. Remember to bring tissues.
