oh, oz

Aussie Gays Air Their Dirty Laundry, Have a “Wank in a Raincoat”

Like everything Australian, we’re having a little trouble understanding this fuss and bother over the GLORIAs.

As far as we can make out: it’s a tongue-in-cheek awards show (full name: “Gay and Lesbian,Outrageous,Ridiculous & Ignorant comment Award”) that recognizes homophobia. It’s a sarcastic, insulting prize, sort of like a Pink Brick, or a Razzie, or a Grammy.

But this year, they’re giving one to a gay guy, and he doesn’t seem to be very happy about it. The unwilling recipient: Gary Burns, an activist who had some kind of a tiff over a closeted politician. The details are complicated and frankly we can’t be bothered to untangle them, but Burns certainly has some choice words for the GLORIAs:

These awards are run by Sydney’s ‘dance bunny’s who are this big embarrassment for people like me and others in the community who just want to live their lives the best way they know how,openly and honestly.
It seems to me I am not allowed to have an opinion unless GAY INC approves  it.
These awards are just “GAY INC’s UNREPRESENTATIVE SPOKESPERSONS HAVING A WANK IN A RAINCOAT.

Meow! But wait. Are we being played here? Because if Burns wanted to publicize and promote this awards show and raise its profile, this is the best way that he could possibly do it. We still don’t know exactly what’s going on but clearly there are some fireworks and bitchiness, and we’re always up for a little of that.

He adds,

Surely these silly Gloria Awards are just highlighting homophobia and not dismantling it.

Now that is actually an interesting point. Setting aside the bickering about whether Burns deserves an award, is it a good idea to recognize homophobia in general?

Surely it’s important to shine a spotlight on unacceptable behavior, but is that enough? Do the GLORIAs do anything to actually discourage anti-gay rhetoric?

Homophobia is clearly alive and well in Australia — for a good time, just check out some of the things that other nominees have had to say:

  • “there’s a difference between colourful and disgusting” — a newscaster describing Mardi Gras
  • “I believe the world of AFL footy is not ready for it. To come out is unnecessary for a lot of reasons.” — an athlete encouraging teammates to lie about themselves
  • “Suck on that faggots.” — another athlete reveling in a victory
  • “children in homosexual relationships are subject to emotional abuse. Legitimising gay marriage is like legalising child abuse.” — a politician
  • “Being a homosexual particularly for a male is a very very dangerous thing. In Denmark and Norway the life expectancy of a male homosexual is 20 -25 years less than heterosexual male.” — another politician

Aaaaaand so forth. It goes on and on and on. We’d say that these awful people should be put in prison, but they’re already in Australia so close enough.

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