★★★★★ 0/5

Gaycrashers

Joel Creasey & Rhys Nicholson are determined to change the minds of ignorant locals, one joke at a time.

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2014-11-04_2239The last time Joel Creasey was in the western Victorian town of Colac he was subjected to homophobic abuse by some redneck locals.

The time before that he was also the target of abuse. It would be enough to convince any sane, thinking person to never set foot in the town again.

Instead in this half hour documentary Gaycrashers for ABC2’s Opening Shot series he meets the problem head on, determined to change opinions with humour. Joining him for a brave stand-up performance in the town is fellow gay comedian Rhys Nicholson.

Both are young, slight and unable to defend themselves with little more than acerbic barbs.

“It felt like a whole town hated me,” Creasey says of his 2011 appearance for local anti-discrimination group, Dynamic. It ended with him telling media he had been threatened by angry locals.

“I want to go back and investigate. Get my Tracy Grimshaw on.”

Colac is a town of some 10,000 people, with signs that declare it is ‘Naturally Progressive.’ But Creasey and Nicholson will stage a night of comedy at the local RSL -yes, comprising queer comedy- and the doco is divided into ‘can we sell tickets? / can we change opinions?’ agendas.

Youth suicide, particularly amongst gay men in rural towns, is a serious issue, although it is never really given a thorough Grimshaw-style investigation in what is largely a work of humour.

As the two boys wander the town they are still subjected to uncomplimentary remarks.

“Looks like a bum camp to me,” mumbles one old bar fly.

“Nice hair-do homo!” someone yells from a passing vehicle.

But local mayor Lyn Russell is more tolerant of diversity and agrees to introduce their big night.

Along the way the pair partake in Hamish & Andy-style activities of working at a local bar, timber yard and dairy. Opinions vary on how gay men would fit in with the locals.

“Is this a long term thing. Or just a flash in the pan?” asks one woman.

Another man whose sister is gay advises -rather worringly- “Don’t have Mardi Gras. Heterosexuals don’t have parades.”

Colac Youth Development Worker Emma Warton tells Creasey his last appearance may have even set back his own cause, turning Colac into a ‘slander match.’

“It became not as safe to come out,” she tells him.

“You have some accountability as to how you took to the media.”

These are words that deepen the conflict of this experiment, especially for Creasey.

Gaycrashers by Director/ Writer Tom Rohr and Producer / Writer Nel Minchin isn’t always perfect in deciding whether it is out to change opinions or laugh at the expense of the locals, but I suspect those who walked away from this night of comedy left far more enlightened than when they arrived.

Gaycrashers airs 9:30pm Monday on ABC2.

11 Responses

  1. @Jezza: There are many errors in that comment but for brevity’s sake I’ll just say this: if your kid was getting bullied, would you want him to do something about it? Or would you tell him to keep quiet because standing up for himself or telling the teacher would be vilifying his bully? Would you completely dismiss his pain because other people have it worse? Would he just have to put up with it because “not everyone sees the world his way”?

    All that these so-called “heterophobic” TV shows are trying to do is bring attention to how the LGBT community is being treated. Even in the above article there are some examples. Yes, not all straight people are like that but that’s hardly relevant – the footage doesn’t lie – they are not making it up! They didn’t tell those people to say those things. And to somehow construe this all in a way where straight people are the victims is ridiculous and completely misses the point. It just reinforces why we need shows like this.

  2. @Chris N.

    Yeah the most hegemonic groups seem to be activists who push their imperialistic view of the world and vilify anyone who dares to disagree. Not everyone will see the world your way.

    While the suicide rate amongst young rural gay blokes is a big concern, it is well known and hopefully support is put in place, it isn’t however necessarily the highest. I was surprised during ABCs mental haelth week to learn of the high rates amonst young tradies. If I remember correctly it was higher than young gay blokes. So support should be in place for all these folk, not just certain high profile groups supported by activists….

  3. @jezza and derek: Homophobia is real and so is the high rate of suicide of young, gay men (especially in rural areas). I don’t see how talking about it stereotypes anyone. Nobody is suggesting that all straight people are homophobic, that’s just ludicrous and nobody would believe it.

    I always find it ironic when hegemonic groups claim oppression/discrimination/vilification when there’s discussion about the treatment of minorities (which is usually *actual* discrimination/vilification at the hands of these same hegemonic groups). I also love how equality for LGBT people is now a “view” in the same way that “I like Star Trek” is a view.

  4. @squareyes and @ derek there is a fair amount of heterophobic tv around these days simply stereotyping straight folk and assuming they are all the same. Its a case of at what point does pushing forward your own views/interests start to vilify others who, while accepting your view etc, don’t necessarily feel the same way.

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