GenQ - For the not so straight individual

It is around this time each and every year that the Australian gay and lesbian community recognizes people who have stood out for having their presence felt when representing or contributing to the community. We thought this was a stellar idea, so we decided to jump on board; there is nothing like giving individuals credit when it is most definitely due. We wanted to make our list of unsung heroes a way of saying 'thank you' without making it a popularity event. When I was asked to come up with a list of unsung heroes, I wanted it to be about the people who contribute and make a difference, discarding any social status, sexuality or a minimum/maximum number of efforts being recognized. Taking that into consideration, I present to you our unsung heroes for 2007.

Believe it or not, there is only one real ‘a-grade’ celebrity on my list, and when I decided to include Darren Hayes as an unsung hero, it was almost unintentional, with Hayes himself stating in August that he has unwittingly become a spokesperson for gay marriage. Nevertheless, Darren has brought to mainstream media the progress (or should I say lack of) that Australia is currently making to give gay people the same rights as heterosexuals. Combine that with charity assistance over the past year or so for organizations such as Positive Kids and the Trevor Project, and you intentionally have yourself an unsung hero. (It’s kind of ironic to call a singer who has sold 25 million records an ‘unsung’ hero though isn’t it?)

Determining if any particular person in Australia’s political arena rightfully deserves to have ‘unsung hero’ status is not an easy thing to do. There are plenty of organizations that support the progression of equal rights, partially; the major one of those of course being the ALP. The two political parties that do immediately come to mind when I think gay rights are the Democrats and the Greens, with both groups publicly announcing their support for same-sex union bills. But one particular party that has caught my eye is What Women Want; a political organization with some 700 members that is attempting to increase the presence of women in politics without being controversially feminist. The party’s view on sexuality is put as simply as this: “We support determination of sexuality as a fundamental human right. Currently same sex couples are discriminated against significantly. We support the ability for same sex couples to enjoy equal access to rights as heterosexuals�. Support for gay rights really can be declared as simple as that. National Convenor for What Women Want and mother-of-six Justine Caines is an unsung hero who is likely to shine as the party continues to grow, providing much needed support in a number of areas currently lacking their deserved reputation and recognition.

There is one news item which you can guarantee will make headlines in the first weekend of March; the festival ending Mardi Gras parade. Rather than selecting the organizers as unsung heroes, I have chosen to make the Mardi Gras (Sydney), Midsumma (Melbourne), ChillOut (Daylesford, Victoria), Darwin Pride, Pride WA, Feast (Adelaide) and Brisbane Pride festivals unsung heroes. It takes more than one person to put festivals into action; it can take potentially hundreds if not thousands. So each and every volunteer, board member, event organizer, official etc., you are all unsung heroes. I specifically included every gay and lesbian festival I could think of in Australia because no matter how many people attend or how large or small the festival is, it is guaranteed to bring the community together to recognize what we have accomplished, to celebrate who we are, and to continue the fight for the equal rights that we as individuals deserve. To those who donate their time, thank you. Your efforts are not forgotten.

Mardi Gras and queerDOC Film Festival Director Lex Lindsay is a man who I felt strongly needed to be made an unsung hero. He, along with the entire QueerScreen team has become a part of the small group of people who have made me smile, laugh and shed a tear for all the right reasons. But that wasn’t the only reason why Lex was selected. It is was in the middle of August that I had come across an interview in the Sydney Morning Herald in which Lex publicly spoke of being a victim in a horrific hate crime. What struck me about the interview, and what I am still reminded of on a weekly basis, is the fact that police reports had not stated that the bashing was a homophobic attack, it was just a straightforward assault with robbery, with anti-gay slurs being described as being ‘verbally abused by the assailant’. It is instances such as this one which finally bring to attention that not only is the public statement being made of all hate crimes not being reported, attacks are not being identified as hate crimes when they are reported. Being able to shed light in such a spectrum on this issue does not occur regularly. To make an entertaining and value contribution to the Sydney gay community, along with the personal highlighting of necessary issues which affect all gay people deserves kudos.

There are literally thousands of people that contribute to charities, youth groups, counselling services, AIDS councils and rights lobbies around Australia. To name all of them, or to even find all of them would take years. So to the honourable people who donate their time to worthwhile causes that affect the gay community, thank you. The community as a whole truly appreciates it.

He's known as 'Geoff, the gay newsreader' and took part in Sydney's first 'illegal gay wedding' which was broadcast on the Kyle and Jackie O on 2DayFM and Channel Seven's Sunrise. Geoff Field plays a valuable part in the community, lending his voice and raising funds for the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, and also took part as a celebrity shaver in this year's World's Greatest Shave for the Leukaemia Foundation. He may be a helpless victim in 'scare Geoff', but has won over many hearts with his ambassador-like status in the gay community.

Deputy Lord Mayor Gary Singer has proven to be a vital member of the Melbourne City Council, which introduced earlier this year one of Australia’s first relationship registers, recognizing same-sex couples. Appearing and supporting gay community events such as the National Day of Action and the Midsumma festival, Gary highlights a much needed contribution from politicians to the Victorian gay community; a fitting unsung hero.

It is not just gay people that show support and contribute to the Australian gay community. Politicians such as Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and George Newhouse, candidate for Wentworth, actively demonstrate and speak out declaring that gay people are the same as everybody else, and deserve to be treated as such. They may not be gay, but they still deserve to be unsung heroes.

Nici Clayhills may not be a common name in the gay community, but her behind the scene efforts certainly make her worthy of an unsung hero status. Nici is the chief litigator at Clayhills Solicitors, and has actively become involved in the gay community, and earlier this year became a board member of the GenQ Foundation.

To the people that ensure that our presence is continually felt in the media; Scott Abrahams, Silke Bader and Brett Hayhoe through their respective publications ensure that the gay community continues to be in print, and that every story that needs to be told, is. It is not as easy as it sounds to have issues such as violence against the gay community highlighted in mainstream media; John Kidman from the Sydney Morning Herald has written a number of stories which say what needs to be said. These four people deserve credit where it is due.

Anthony Venn-Brown is one of a select few that actively demonstrates that people can be religious, and can also be gay at the same time. This year has been a successful one for Anthony, with the second edition of award winning book A Life of Unlearning: A journey to find the truth being released, the collaboration of testimonals from former religious leaders in errors of judgment of ‘ex-gay’ programs as well as Freedom 2 B[e] (a group co-founded by Brown which brings together people with Pentecostal and Charismatic backgrounds, assisting them with faith and sexuality issues and creating acceptance) taking part in the Mardi Gras for the first time this year. As the credits continue, Anthony Venn-Brown rightly deserves to be an unsung hero.

One significant portion of the community that is quite often overlooked is the transgenders. Not in this case, as two of our unsung heroes are Zoe Belle and Jade Starr. Zoe has continued to be a valuable asset to the Melbourne community, by regularly volunteering for the Midsumma festival. Her warmth and sense of community is welcomed by those around her. Jade has literally been an instrumental member of the community, having been a part of bands for twenty years. She is currently a member of Dreadcircus, a group that has been featured across national radio and media, and was featured in both Midsumma and Mardi Gras earlier this year.

Candi Stratton has also played a valuable role in the support of the transgender community, making her mark here in Australia, as well as in Thailand and the United States. The list of achievements continues to grow for Candi, including being crowned Miss Gay Universe earlier this year. Along with assisting in the development of transgender website TGconnect, the Cher impersonator continually wins over fans and members of the gay community.

The final two people who I have chosen are sadly no longer with us, but are still honoured and heavily regarded in the community today. One currently has his bestselling autobiography being relived on stage in Sydney for the fourth time in twelve months; the other has Australia’s longest running HIV/AIDS foundation dedicated to him. Timothy Conigrave and Bobby Goldsmith are two men that made valuable contributions to the gay community in the latter part of the twentieth century, and their efforts today are still praised and recognized. I could not go past these two gentlemen when compiling my list, because although they personally may not directly make an impact today, their stories and their dreams live on, and will continue to do so for many years to come. To the cast and crew of Holding The Man, and to those who work with the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, thank you for continuing the aspirations of these two gentlemen, and for assisting in keeping the spirit of the gay community alive. It would not be possible without you.

These are the people and groups that we have selected as our unsung heroes. There are so many more that we could praise, but we here at GenerationQ wish to truly make this a community poll, so you will have the opportunity to decide who makes the final list. You can vote for one of the people or organizations that we have chosen, or you can nominate your own person or group. An individual’s sexual orientation does not matter either, as we have included straight people in our selections, just as long as they have made a difference or contribution to the Australian gay community. There is no specific number to how many people/groups will be on the final list; every nomination will be reviewed equally. It is the community as a whole that will decide the final list, so have your say and make your inidividual 'thank you' be heard.

To take part in our unsung heroes poll, click here.

Don’t worry if you’re an international reader, you will have a chance to have your say soon... stay tuned to GenerationQ.