‘It’s OK, I’m cool with it,’ my slightly shocked friend responded. I’d just told him I was gay. I’d come out six months earlier in late 1999, but this friend had been away overseas and since this was in the days before Facebook, he was unaware of my significant status update. Relieved that my friend was cool with my newly declared sexuality I breathed a sigh of relief. Then he added, ‘It doesn’t make you any less of a man.’
The additional comment has stuck with me, I’d never been unsure about my masculinity or confused about my gender. In my mind there was no connection between the two, I’d always been attracted to men, and I’d come out because I was at peace in accepting that reality. In my mind, I was a man who really liked other men – surely there was more masculinity in my world than his? Clearly though my friend, in accepting gay people, had drawn some connections between sexuality and gender roles. His comment maybe said more about him, than it did about me.
As time goes on and our sexual identities are becoming more accepted and understood in society, now more attention and understanding is starting to be shown to people’s gender and gender identity. It was intriguing this month to talk to musical artist Lucas Brenton, who has very succinct thoughts on gender and read Jae West’s thoughts on finding a lesbian identity. Local artists Tom Penney and Elizabeth Marpole had a mountain fun swapping genders for our cover shoot.
The Pride Parade is not far away, make sure you come out on Pride night and show the world that gay people are from all walks of life and are of all ages. In this issue we’ve spoken to a number of the artists who will be performing at the various parties and it sounds like they’re all going to be bringing their huge talent to make a wonderful night.
Graeme Watson
Editor
editor@www.outinperth.com
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