Bracing against the wind, heart pounding, the din of conversation grew louder. A male voice on a mike reverberated into the night sky.
The doors to the Albury Hotel were in sight; a bright, pulsating beacon. A RuPaul track cut the roar of the crowd, and a multicoloured feathered creation delighted punters.
I must have walked past the doors three times before entering.
Darting eyes sized me up, then returned to their groups. Before I鈥檇 worked out how to escape, an American guy offered to buy me a drink. I obliged, gulping it down and accepting a few more. My friend turned up no more than 30 minutes later, apologising profusely.
This was my introduction to the gay scene.
It got a lot easier. I quickly learned other guys found me attractive. These feelings were new and weird. I鈥檇 never thought of myself as physically engaging. Just making it through school alive was enough for me. I was 鈥榝resh meat鈥� and soon became part of the in-crowd. I was too cool for school.
This was also my downfall.
I became narcissistic and rude. It wasn鈥檛 long before I was lost in a world of dance parties, shiny disco balls, and hazy party days. I was oblivious to the inequalities we still faced as a community. I鈥檇 found my paradise, that was all that mattered then.
But like most of us, I had to grow up. Things are much different now for same-sex attracted youth.
Last week鈥檚 Q and A highlighted a Gen Y panel, which included Josh Thomas and Fuzzy, both of whom did a bang-up job speaking for GLBTI rights. And as if the Pride Festival couldn鈥檛 get any better, New York鈥檚 passing of the Marriage Equality Act was quickly followed by the WA ALP鈥檚 declaration of support for marriage equality, again putting Gillard under the spotlight, with pressure mounting for the federal Government to get with the program.
The overwhelming majority of Australians support marriage equality. It鈥檚 only a matter of time.
If you鈥檙e thinking of heading out to your first venue, enjoy your newfound attention, by all means. But never take these liberties for granted, as I did. It wasn鈥檛 so long ago homosexuality was illegal in this country. I fear I鈥檓 sounding a little preachy 鈥� yet there鈥檚 so much more to our community than bars and clubs and dance parties. Get involved and make a difference.
No one said you can鈥檛 still enjoy the occasional shiny disco ball.
info: Don鈥檛 forget to follow SSO at @star_observer and Damien @damientweeting
YES …………. WHERE ARE YOU DAMIEN ??? Babe ?
This looks like the last column of yours I can locate ?
If you have moved on to greener pastures, can I say thank you so very much for your columns in the star ! They were a highlight of my reading week. That is saying something for me lololol
RE this column : very honest about how you were basically being a bit of a prick and ^grew up^ so to speak – I think this speaks to the experience of many, many LGBT folk. I have to agree that us gen ys need to be more involved and learn how to give back….. try it sometime, there is no better feeling, and who knows, u might even end up helping someone in the process.
Every success for your future endeavors mr Stevens ! Love ya work ! xoxoxo :-)
Hey Damian, c’mon ! :P Please where’s ur next column ?? Get well soon mate, few friends and me I know of are really missin ur words !!
Ur No1 Fan (maybe lol)
J xoxo
Your column is not in the paper either Damian!! I am preparing myself to be devo over this!! If ur column is gone I do hope it was ur choice because it was one of the most enjoyable and popular things about this paper!!!!! A flashy new layout with only just comparable new faces does not make for better reading IMHO………
If u are unwell as the SSO Twitter feed mentioned a little while ago, I hope u get better soon. If u are (gulp) gone from the observer I do hope to see u pop up somewhere someone soon!!! :o)
Hey Scene Queen !
Where is your column this week ? It is always a bit of a highlight of my reading week if the truth be told :-) Get better soon and get those fingers typing !! :-P
Jally XXX
I recently came out on the scene and felt exactly the same way it is good to know I am not alone or a weirdo for being so nervous lol
I remember my first night out on the scene and I was so nervous I threw up !
Great column again !