My penis can attest to my heterosexuality, that doesnt prevent me from being really, really interested in homosexuals, though.
Its always an awkward thing to bring up, without making me look like Im perhaps trying to distance myself from implied homophobia, or alienating them like theyre something Im not.
Growing up in a small country town, there werent really that many gay people around. At least not overtly. I knew about homosexuality from a young age, and was taught never to fear it, and I never will.
I remember very clearly when I was about ten or eleven, my Father told me that if I found out I was gay one day, that he and my Mother would actually love me more than they would if I were straight.
He said theyd love me more because theyd knew that Id have hard times ahead.
That said, my Father is in his late seventies, and was in his prime during the bible belt. Things might have been a little harder coming out then than they are now. But either way, its one of the nicest things my Dad has ever said to me.
When I moved down to Melbourne, I met a lot of gay people. I was, and to a degree still am, very fascinated by them. Sure, in part is was due to the fact that Id never really interacted with them before, but mostly, it was admiration.
I cant begin to imagine what it could be like for some people coming out, and coming to terms with their sexuality. We always talk about peoples rights to sexual freedom, and how we shouldnt judge peoples sexual preferences.
Those are things that are really worth fighting for.
Thats when I decided to make one of the leading characters in my manuscript a Lesbian. I wanted to explore that type of thing from a different perspective, and also challenge myself to write it and make it believable.
Writing about something youve never really experienced can be extremely difficult, after all.
But a breakthrough came with me when I realized something. I was speaking to my friend Scott at work, and out of curiosity I asked him what kind of girl he might like if he were straight. He shook his head, and said to me; If I didnt like boys, Id still be in love with [Partner] Bradley.
It wasnt fighting for their right to have sex with whomever they chose that I so admired.
I was blind-sighted by the media when it came to that. All film and television every talked about was the sex. The sex? Whos business is it who anyone else has sex with, unless its you? The issue has never been about sex. Sex comes later.
They are fighting for their right to love whoever they choose.
That is something which, to me, is very moving. What is society or individuals if we are to dictate to people who they can and cannot love? We cant do that. We actually cant.
Love is a feeling, not a choice. We might think we can stop people having sex, and maybe some people have stopped that, maybe someday theyll do it again. But we cant stop them loving one another, even if they never touch for as long as they live.
Once we all realize that, the ignorant people of the world will discover that their efforts are futile, and just stop all together.
Homosexuals are far braver than Ill ever be, and theyre fighting a war for something far more important than oil or the ozone layer or dictatorship.
This is what I will always admire and love them for.
So, for those of you who dont get it, remember: Theyre just people. They were never anything different no matter what you think.
Theyre just people who want to be able to love.
Now that is something I can relate to.
Love and Kittens,
Brian
Its always an awkward thing to bring up, without making me look like Im perhaps trying to distance myself from implied homophobia, or alienating them like theyre something Im not.
Growing up in a small country town, there werent really that many gay people around. At least not overtly. I knew about homosexuality from a young age, and was taught never to fear it, and I never will.
I remember very clearly when I was about ten or eleven, my Father told me that if I found out I was gay one day, that he and my Mother would actually love me more than they would if I were straight.
He said theyd love me more because theyd knew that Id have hard times ahead.
That said, my Father is in his late seventies, and was in his prime during the bible belt. Things might have been a little harder coming out then than they are now. But either way, its one of the nicest things my Dad has ever said to me.
When I moved down to Melbourne, I met a lot of gay people. I was, and to a degree still am, very fascinated by them. Sure, in part is was due to the fact that Id never really interacted with them before, but mostly, it was admiration.
I cant begin to imagine what it could be like for some people coming out, and coming to terms with their sexuality. We always talk about peoples rights to sexual freedom, and how we shouldnt judge peoples sexual preferences.
Those are things that are really worth fighting for.
Thats when I decided to make one of the leading characters in my manuscript a Lesbian. I wanted to explore that type of thing from a different perspective, and also challenge myself to write it and make it believable.
Writing about something youve never really experienced can be extremely difficult, after all.
But a breakthrough came with me when I realized something. I was speaking to my friend Scott at work, and out of curiosity I asked him what kind of girl he might like if he were straight. He shook his head, and said to me; If I didnt like boys, Id still be in love with [Partner] Bradley.
It wasnt fighting for their right to have sex with whomever they chose that I so admired.
I was blind-sighted by the media when it came to that. All film and television every talked about was the sex. The sex? Whos business is it who anyone else has sex with, unless its you? The issue has never been about sex. Sex comes later.
They are fighting for their right to love whoever they choose.
That is something which, to me, is very moving. What is society or individuals if we are to dictate to people who they can and cannot love? We cant do that. We actually cant.
Love is a feeling, not a choice. We might think we can stop people having sex, and maybe some people have stopped that, maybe someday theyll do it again. But we cant stop them loving one another, even if they never touch for as long as they live.
Once we all realize that, the ignorant people of the world will discover that their efforts are futile, and just stop all together.
Homosexuals are far braver than Ill ever be, and theyre fighting a war for something far more important than oil or the ozone layer or dictatorship.
This is what I will always admire and love them for.
So, for those of you who dont get it, remember: Theyre just people. They were never anything different no matter what you think.
Theyre just people who want to be able to love.
Now that is something I can relate to.
Love and Kittens,
Brian