GenQ - For the not so straight individual

It has been a tumultuous time in the gay scene of late in Brisbane. Drug's Drama's and Despair! A young confused friend wanders the streets of the valley, unable to distinguish reality from drug induced fantasy. Another young lesbian squabbles with her new girlfriend, a story only all too apparent of today's gay youth. The almost butch girl seeks love and affection after loosing her boyfriend of almost two years.

Dozens of flightless individuals dress up in their best and make their way into the valley, Brisbane gay Epicentre after a week of hard work or play.

All walks of life come to this den of social inequality, a place known in the past for its crime, prostitution and disadvantaged element. In recent years the valley has become a multicultural music hub of all sorts, types, genre's and groove's.

This story is not about what the valley has become but the day to day struggle and lifestyle so much of our community go through but never share.

The young gay guy, struggles to quash the thoughts and personalities going through his head, he's more disadvantaged than the rest of us, he suffers from bi-polar, a disorder becoming more and more prevalent in the gay youth. He has found only one outlet for his nightmarish existence, and that is totally unacceptable by mainstream society.

Drug use, ecstasy, ice and whatever else he can get his hands on. Without placing this guy in a box apart from society. He is part of a minority, he's sort help in the past, even held a reputable job in the near past, he has tried alternative types of medication, legal types, but to no avail. They just didn't make him feel right. Nothing has worked for him, but he is a strong individual, he chugs through life only knowing what he's already learnt, what works for him. What is his life. He wants to talk, he needs to talk, but the gay scene isn't all to understanding about others issue, so his cycle and downward spiral only continues to an unknown and unclear fate. When the pain of one individual is all to clear and obvious in front of us, we have a satisfying sensation arise in our souls ?im glad it isn't me?.

I receive a phonecall, just after nine, a crackled and obviously distraught female voice comes on the other end.

?She broke up with me, she's been a bitch to me and I don't know why? the voice deteriorates into an undecipherable mumble.

This has been happening a couple of times a week, the phone calls, the stress, and the destruction of a great friend. Don't get me wrong, breaking up I think is a healthy aspect of life, it teaches us to deal with loss and cope with an ever changing social environment encouraging us to discover ourselves.

Her thoughts are messed, her uni at risk, her soul is being crushed not by the world around her but the inability to follow her path of self realisation. Friends stand by each other, but sometimes there is a point, a point when you can no longer stand by as you watch your friend spiral into a path of self-annihilation.

These stories would be replicated a million times around the world in the gay scene. The support whilst at times with individuals can be there, but on the whole, with fractured family home lives and a culture of partying. There are very few deep and lasting friendships and relationships. The mentality of the gay scene is ?upgrade? and ?newest of the new?, whist this may be acceptable within material possessions, and it can be carried to every aspect of their lives. And sadly, the mentality can be the root of many of their problems that a new plasma screen won't fix.