“This isn’t a crusade for me to prove that I can be a gay cowboy…I’m just someone who enjoys this particular lifestyle with the man that I love.” These are the powerfully simple words of Dan Smith, a 34-year-old cowboy living in rural North Queensland, Australia with his partner Miki.
But Dan’s self-confidence isn’t a gift he was born with. In his 20s, his perceived tension between an adolescence spent living on a farm and his newly realized identity as a gay man led him to believe that the two couldn’t coexist.
He left the home that he loved and moved to the city to try and “make it” in the life he thought he was supposed to have. He changed the way he dressed, the music he listened to and the places he frequented, all to try and adhere to an image in his head.
An image, he would eventually learn, was just not right for him.
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Miki, on the other hand, has the exact opposite story. He grew up as a city boy, worked in Melbourne, and didn’t feel quite comfortable. He quit his job to travel around Australia, and met Dan along the way.
Together they discovered they could have their vegemite sandwiches and eat them, too.
Now they live a peaceful life on the land, tending to livestock and farming. And they couldn’t be happier.
Take a look at this video and share with anyone you know who thinks that being gay means you have to be anything other than yourself:
vive
I think they are hot, and power to them, but the irony is that these two supposedly stereotype-shattering guys are the perfect gay clones, with the perfect bodies, the scruff just right, the perfect shabby-chic clothes, etc.
It bothers me when people talk about breaking stereotypes as if it were a bad thing to be “stereotypical.” Many of us ARE like one of the stereotypes – so what are we supposed to feel like?
AxelDC
After Brokeback Mountain, gay cowboys ARE stereotypes.
Good for these guys for living their lives as they feel comfortable.
Sammy Schlipshit
@vive:
The way I see it, they are dressed that way because those are their everyday work clothes not a drag costume.
They are slim and fit because they physically work hard.
If you ever see a fat cowboy then you have seen someone who isn’t taking care of a ranch except from a chair.
Miki has jumped into the deep end. Not knowing anything about ranch life, he has a very steep learning curve.
Ranching is hard and long work every day all year long.
I think they’re great. I celebrate both them and the life they are building.
…..and red heads are my obsession….couple that with dimples and an Aussie accent, I’m in heaven.
Just be yourself.
It took some years for those two to find what they are all about.
You will too….if not already.
Peace!!!!!
TrueWords
If anyone cared to read Brokeback Mountain….here is the description of the Ennis and Jack on page 3
http://www.taosmemory.com/oscar/BrokebackMountainNovle.pdf
Sammy Schlipshit
@TrueWords:
Thanks for the reminder.
Even after all these years I have still only watched my DVD of Brokeback Mountain. I get so enthralled with the romancing that the ending always just turns me into a puddle of tears.
Still say it should have won the Oscar. Certainly better than Trash…er…Crash.
Sammy Schlipshit
Just thought of this….would really like to know how their families are reacting to their love.
Anyone out there in the web world know these two or any other details?
TrueWords
@Sammy Schlipshit: CRASH was CRAP!!!
Sammy Schlipshit
@TrueWords:
Agree. Annie Proulx was pissed and let everyone within earshot know it.
Brokeback Mountain losing just confirmed how uptight and homophobic the powers that be really are….at least those who vote on the Oscars.
I have heard the majority of Academy voters are much older folks who tend to stay ignorant and mean until they die.
TrueWords
Sammy Schlipshit: You know I never saw the movie…as much as LOVE Ang Lee (if you have not seen “The Ice Storm” do yourself a favor and watch it)..
I wanted to the cowboys to be more honest in their looks…with bellies and bucked teeth as to defuse the stereotype of beautiful gay men…but that is NOT Hollywood it is built to sell tickets…
My memories of Brokeback Mountain will always be reading the short story in the New Yorker (where it originally ran) to a friend of mine (who was 81 she has since passed away ) while she made lentil soup with rosemary in the kitchen…we got together every Sunday, one person read and the other cooked…
The short story was tender and loving but yes heartbreaking…she and I wept as I read the ending.
Also the Academy Awards is a JOKE…no a farce…have not watched it in over 20 years…
Sammy Schlipshit
@TrueWords:
I have seen The Ice Storm. Enthralling. Afterwards I knew there was terrific acting going on but an even better director behind it all.
You’re correct about slim to no chance regular looking men would have been cast as those two guys. Even with someone of bankable name, no regular guy would have made it.
Even though, I don’t consider either Jake or Heath to be pretty men. Better than average, yes but not beautiful.
Go ahead, watch the movie….have a hanky handy.
It’s really a pretty movie to watch.
Ang Lee keeps it moving right along.
Annie and Larry McMurtry did an admirable job with the script.
Movies are never the same as the original writing. No director could ever conjure the images nor actors a performance that can equal ones own imagination.
I agree about the Academy Awards also. I only watch the opening monologue/number depending on who’s the host.
Ellen was pretty good. She got away with some good one liners that had zing. Also laid some bombs. It’s all a crap shoot.
Carry on.
vive
I liked the short story and I liked the movie. However, it must be acknowledged that Brokeback Mountain was a very old school, “stereotypical” gay tale. It used to be that gay lives were always depicted as lonely and tragic, and B.M. was very much in that same mold.
Sammy Schlipshit
@vive:
Here’s my take….those type of stories happen very frequently.
I wish it was ‘old school’ but even with all of our progress, many are just too terrified to take that final step.
That’s what I thought Brokeback Mountain brilliantly exposed.
Steve318
These guys are just too adorable, stereotypical or not. Interestingly enough at my age (I’m way older than these lovable guys) I’ve been able to slim down; I have a scruffy beard, and I wear shabby-chic clothes. I also live in farm country. So more power two these two. I was envious when they took the horses for a swim. I wanted to be there with them. I’d get wet with these guys anytime. So criticize them or praise them. It doesn’t matter, these two brokebacck cowboys have a life many of us envision and envy.
enlightenone
Hard work made easier with the man you love. Nothing more romantic together at two with nature!
jamesnimmo
@TrueWords: Yup, in the short story they’re described as pretty plain, if not homely. I love the story but have not seen the movie.
barkomatic
Living in the country is great, but it’s a lot harder to meet a guy there because of the low population density. If you don’t want to date the sheep on your farm you often *have* to move to the city — and then maybe you can convince your man to move back with you — but usually not.
Aaron
Dan and Miki are a beautiful couple. They work damn hard and earn their living with dedication to their land and to each other. The little issue I have is with Queerty using their beautiful story as examples for ‘shattering stereotypes.’ It’s sad when people talk about breaking gay stereotypes as if it were wrong to be stereotypical. Dan and Miki should be praised for their strong dedication and confidence to be themselves, not for having a typically masculine profession that most ‘stereotypical’ gays wouldn’t have or want to have.
Alan down in Florida
I hope they have a long happy life together outside of the spotlight. All that matters is that somehow on this crowded planet they found each other.
demented
@vive: It would have been less stereotypical if the Brokeback Mt. characters had vanished together, never to be seen again by anyone else in the movie.
But to be fair, Ang Lee loves him a tragic ending. “The Wedding Banquet” probably has the happiest ending of any movie except “Sense and Sensibility” – a homoflexible man, his lover and his pregnant green-card wife all able to live their lives happily.
As for these two guys, I hope that their lives are long and happy and free of heartbreak and loss. And good for them for living the life they want, not being in a place, a job or an environment that doesn’t make them happy just because it isn’t what people think of when they think of “gay.”
NoCagada
THE ICE STORM
Great movie with one of the best lines ever, especially in the scene which I will not describe. If you don’t know it, you should see it.
“You’re boing me, Richard. I already have a husband.”
Interchanging the name, it can be an incredibly useful line…in many different situations.
blackberry finn
That’s one good arrangement they have! May they stay together for the long haul, dad-gum it!
restoretherainbow
This couple is adorable.
enlightenone
@restoretherainbow: “This couple is adorable.” The activist! That’s it? “Adorable” are two 4 year olds playing in a sandbox.
wpewen
One of the reasons I bailed on the living around the gay community years ago was the obsession with appearance, clothing. I’m from suburban straight SoCal and got some hell for clothes, of all things. I just gave up, thank God. I dress like I feel like dressing, no costumes, etc. I’m masculine and dress “straight’ I guess. I’ve known guys in CA who were close to being cowboys, and were gay. It’s not a big deal. Also construction guys, etc. who simply looked like what they were. I’ve got scruff, for myself, didn’t even know it was hip till recently. It’s nice being liked, even “in fashion” if that’s what you want. Whatever.
vive
@wpewen, maybe you were just trying to run in the wrong circles. Here in the Northeast (besides maybe NYC) gay guys don’t care one sh*t about fashion. So to “bail on the community” for something like that sounds just silly and overly dramatic to me.
jwtraveler
The opening quote of the story says it all. They’re fortunate to have the opportunity to live their lives as they choose (which the men of Brokeback Mountain didn’t). This is one of the victories of the gay liberation movement.