GenQ - For the not so straight individual

Timothy Conigrave – Holding The Man

(Published by Penguin Books)

“I reached out and touched his hair. He turned and kissed my hand. I moved closer until we were standing against each other. He smelt like soap and clean clothes. Gentle. Just holding and kissing gently. If this had been it, if I had died then, I would have said it was enough.”

Holding The Man is one of Australia’s iconic books, and with valid reasons. It was the 1995 winner of the Human Rights Award for Non-fiction, and has been listed as one of Australia’s 100 Favourite Books (compiled by the Australian Society for Authors). It is a text that highlights the presence of ‘gay and lesbian literature’, and it has touched the hearts of so many readers, and will continue to do so in the years to come.

Holding The Man has taken on an autobiographical perspective, as the book starts from Timothy’s childhood, growing up from being an innocent young child, into the world of the unknown. But in school, one thing began to fill Timothy’s mind; boys. Little did he know that while being at school, he would find the love of his life, John; a relationship that spans fifteen years. It of course was not without its complications; both Timothy and John were in an all-boys Catholic school, and John was the captain of the school football team.

In this book of exploration, Timothy goes on a journey, finding out about who he truly is, and follows his aspirations of becoming a famous actor. Through a number of sexual encounters, focus groups, and friends, Timothy ‘comes out’ proudly, and does what he can to encourage others to do the same. But just when you think this book will have a happy ending, it all comes to a crashing halt; both Timothy and John test positive to HIV. In the latter stages, the issue of HIV is addressed; it tells of the realization and the effects that this newly informed disease has not only to him personally, but to the community as a whole.

Readers encounter every single emotion while reading this book; self-satisfaction, laughter, glee, sadness, remorse, the list goes on. It is without a doubt, a book that has shaped Australian literature for what it is. To add to the sadness of the text, Timothy himself died just several months after the book was completed, losing the non-winnable battle of fighting aids. This is a book that will move you in so many ways. The amazing story of Holding The Man lives on today, not only through its continual sales, but it is also heading to the stage for the very first time later this year at the Griffin Theatre in Sydney. It is a book you will want to read; the legacy that it leaves behind is overwhelming and cannot be ignored.

www.griffintheatre.com.au/production.cfm