'Bogan' Ideals

The Trailer Park Boys would be proud!

As famous French novelist and memoirist George Sand once said “there is only one happiness in life; to love and to be loved.” As human beings we spend our lives looking for that special one, the yin to our yang, the person that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

And for some people that person has turned out to be someone of the same sex, commonly known as homosexual and/or gay. These are the more PC terms given to some members of our LGBTQ communities around the world.

However during my time living in Sydney, I have encountered a large percentage of Aussies, young and old, that tend to refer to members of the Rainbow Nation with far more colourful terms than is acceptable. And I wanted to find out how rural Aussies, or Bogens as they are locally known, views the recent referendum.

At the start of 2018 we entered a world that has added another country to its list of nations that has passed legislation legalising same-sex marriage. Australia is now no. 26 on that list.

We are all aware that in the Civil Partnership Act 2004 UK citizens were given the rights to co-habit and live basically the same lives as a same-sex couple. And then on the 13th March 2014 the legislation for same-sex marriage was passed, giving equal rights to persons of all sexualities.

And since the first marriage took place on 29th March 2014 things have been running swimmingly in the UK. As with all types of legislation passed through Parliament there will always be people who disagree. That is human nature. What struck me was how many people in Australia, which is considered to be rather liberal by outsiders, were up in arms about the referendum result.

Now Sydney and New South Wales in general is thought to be the most advanced, most educated city and state in Australia, and yet had the most number of NO votes for the whole country. According to News.com.au just 57.8% (2,374,362) voted YES, with a significant 42.2% (1,736,838) voting NO. Now for a state that is thought to be the most forward thinking those statistics concerned me. And since I was heading to Western Australia in the next couple of weeks I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to speak to the residents of what most Aussies consider to be the most backward-thinking state, and see if it was just state rivalry, or if there was anything much more troubling to be found.

After a week in WA I couldn’t believe that anywhere so beautiful could harbour the bigoted views that I had heard so much about on the East Coast.

And I was about 50km away from finding out how wrong I was.

One of the townships I stayed in was a place called Geraldton, about 424km North of Perth. A small and close-knit community made up of farmers, dockhands, and local small business owners. It’s one of those places where everyone knows everyone, but I wonder how many of them know each other’s social views?

So on the 27th January 2018 I took myself into the Geraldton Hotel, bought myself a beer and listened to the local cover band rocking out with their 50 or so fans giving the love right back. After a few minutes scoping out the bar I honed in on the various groups I wanted to meet. I decided three age demographics would give me the best chance of well-rounded view.

You can almost feel the eerie stillness of the place.

Interview 1:

The first table I approached consisted of two older men in the late 50s, a young woman in her 20s, and a young man in his 30s. They were all from Geraldton, and as I approached they became very apprehensive almost immediately. Taken aback, they wanted to know why I was writing this article. Having assured them that it was simply for a personal blog and that it would not see the light of day in Australia they began to open up.

When asked if the actually even voted one 50-something man replied “I tore the mail ballot up. Why waste $130m on a non-issue. Let them get on with it and don’t bring us into it.” He closed the door to further conversation with “Honestly mate, we’re not the best people to be asking.”

The other older member of the group declined comment outright with “I don’t want to lose my job”.

What struck me more than what these men were saying was that the two younger people sat with them did not even look up from their drinks, let alone speak up for or against the topic I had put before them.

After composing myself I gathered my thoughts and reflected on what I had heard. So far the investigation had been met with hostility and, I think it is fair to say, complete distain for the subject matter.

I did however find it mildly amusing that while the interview was being conducted there was a flat screen behind the bar featuring the beloved classic Grease. And the stark contrast in moods was palpable.

Settings reminiscent of the Old West

Interview 2:

The second table I approached was populated by seemingly over-dressed for the setting late-teens that had just finished school and were about to head off either on travels or to university. I was sure that I would find the free love frame of mind at that group.

I was half right.

In this encounter were two females and two males. With the men of the group the interview was over as quickly as it began once they learned the topic of conversation, and I was promptly met with a “eugh” in disgust at the subject matter before they returned to their former conversation about which Aussie footy team was the best.

The females were more accommodating, and the conversation flowed smoothly. They firstly divulged that it was the first time they’d voted and felt that it was one of the most important things they would ever do! They revealed that they had voted YES while their male compatriots voted NO (which I could’ve probably guessed).

The two ladies informed me that they also voted against the wishes of their parents, who had raised them in traditional, Conservative, Christian homes. “But it’s 2018, and people need to be allowed to love and marry whoever they want. It’s no one else’s business.”

Here! Here!

They finally revealed to me that the day gay marriage was legalised that one of their oldest friends came out to them claiming that he didn’t feel scared anymore.

While contemplating this conversation I felt encouraged by what these young women had told me. They are after all the next generation and their feelings that gay marriage in Australia can only be for the better gave me hope.

Interview 3:

Re-energised about my quest for answers I decided to go for the middle of the two groups I’d already spoken with. Luckily for me there was a reasonable-enough looking chap sitting right next to me. He agreed pretty quickly to have chat.

Just as we commenced he proceeded to spill his fresh, full to the brim pint into my lap.

No matter! There were questions that needed answering.

He revealed that he was in his 30s, and was actually from New South Wales but lived and worked in Western Australia.

He claimed that he voted YES not out of any moral or social urge to make the world a better place. He did it purely because he couldn’t be “bothered to listen to people going on about it anymore” and “invading his life with shit he doesn’t care about”.

The closing statement was his belief that the vote didn’t come close to being Australia’s most historic moment. Personally for him it’s the government’s apology to the Aboriginals on 13th February 2008.

So as I sat in the outdoor area of the Geraldton Hotel, with the local band banging out Cypress Hill with as much vigour as they could muster being in their late 40s, I looked back over the answers I had been given. And I realised something sadly troubling.

No one I had spoken to had, in my mind, done anything for the right reason. Fair enough the two young ladies had voted YES but not so much out of a moral duty to do so, but rather because “it’s 2018” and Facebook and Twitter say it’s right.

Homosexuals have the right to marry one another, but I am deeply troubled by the utter contempt and distain shown toward them by these 2/3s of generations of Australians I spoke with.