Doug PollardA Gay Australia Day Message
Ivan & Chris: 10 years together, married in Canada, single in their homeland Australia
What does it mean to celebrate Australia Day when you're Australian and you're gay?
Well, I would have said things differently if you asked me this question two weeks ago.
Two weeks ago as I was quietly getting on with my life, working hard, married (by Canadian law), busily renovating a cottage that is located in a typical, quiet, suburban street, I would have said my Australian life experience was relatively wonderful. So much so that it seemed tangibly closer and closer to being as wonderful to that of my straight friends, family and community as, I believe, it could and should be.
Other than the politically charged issue of regarding the dignity of our intent to be together forever, we don't generally feel discriminated against in our day-to-day lives. We don't feel prejudice from our friends, family or community. We are valued by the measure of our actions and our character. For that, we are living in good times. This, I may add, is still not necessarily the experience of all gay Australians.
However, something broke through my relative suburban comfort two weeks ago.
Margaret Court, on the other side of the country decided to declare that I am, amongst others, unnatural. That our relationship, amongst others, is unhealthy. It was declared that the expression of my love with my partner was an abomination. I think that would come as a surprise to most. But not to a gay Australian.
However, this doesn't fit with how I see myself, or how I'm viewed, at all. Since finally admitting to my family, at the age of 29, that I was gay, a truth I had known since puberty or before, I have finally felt 'natural' for the first time in my life.
Since 'coming out' and enjoying the progression of a committed relationship, coming up to 10 years, I felt happier and healthier than ever before and my life experience reflects it.
Ms Court went as far as to say that it was only due to 'politically correct education' that allowed me to live my life openly and honestly as a gay Australian male, and she clearly regrets this progress.
Here I was thinking that progress had been made because our society is a libertarian and secular one which, while respecting religious freedoms, has a fundamental aversion fettering one person's life experience on the basis of the religious fervour of another.
The crux of it is Margaret Court would prefer that my life wasn't as wonderful as it is. She would much prefer I was cowering on the edges of society only entitled to acceptance if I was something that I am not.
Margaret believes that homosexuality can destroy families. However I think her views are a far greater threat to families than gay people will ever be.
So, what is Australia Day like for a gay Australian?
Different to what I thought it would be. I thought it would be full of watching world class tennis and great Melbourne food with friends. I thought I would wake up with the passive confidence that my society had evolved to respect me for who I am.
This Australia Day I'll be working on developing a fair go for Australians regardless of their sexual orientation. Who would have thought it was still necessary?
Happy Australia Day.
Ivan Hinton & Doug Pollard together run Rainbow Flags Over Margaret Court Arena. Ivan has never previously been involved in activism of any kind.
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