Dave from Big Brother

[Aries Fairy]

Was thinking last night, now that Dave Graham from Big Brother (the gay cowboy one) has entered politics with the National Party, would you vote for him?

[Mr Azza]

I wouldn't vote for someone just because his/she's gay...
Would definitely need to have some valid policies before winning my vote...

[Aries Fairy]

No way, wasn't a fan of him on the show. Still not a fan of him now.

As one of the commentators said at the time - "who died and made him king of the fags?"

[justintime]

yup i would vote ofr him but not if was running with the nats. whay about the greens?

[taylor-dayne]

can someone please tell him to fuck back off to the FARM? seriously. i remember reading a story where he was like, "it's okay to be gay because animals do it.. i know dogs and dairy cows that are gay and lesbian... so why not us?"

and i mean, that's fine in theory, but it's hardly an eloquent way of putting it! dogs lick their balls and piss in the street too - that doesn't make it right.

he's just so tedious. he needs to go back to the bush.

[genkij]

He's Boring !

[Tim D]

It would be interesting to see his policies outside those of "gay rights", as that's all I've heard him speak about so far.

[genkij]

I feel the Term "GAY RIGHTS" is over used..... Really all we want is EQUAL RIGHTS.... The fact that we are living in a "STRAIGHT" world ... I think that we could really do ourselves much better if we didn't use terms like "Gay Marriage" ... Anyone who is not into the idea or not that familiar with the gay community or even knowingly known gays or lesbians .... using terms like this only kind of set up walls.... Same sex partnership, Civil Union or equivalent – as that is what it is.

I want to live in a world where freedom of choice reins - that means we are ALL treated equally.

Nuff said.

[Brett Hayhoe]

Firstly, one can dislike someones perceived persona, however without knowing the person, one should not post an opinion of personal dislike. I know David very well and [to a lesser level] Sherif, and I can tell you that both guys are truly genuine, lovely, and caring human beings.

David never asked for the title "king of the fags" nor was he trying to be. I must admit that part of his time on Big Brother did annoy me, however I also understand the limits of television [live or not] and realise that it is very difficult to form an opinion about someone on that show from what you see in the nightly updates. David received a mixed bag of reactions from his time on the show - some extremely positive and some sadly negative. Surely it is better for us to have gay people on shows like that than the networks simply ignoring a whole portion of the community [many of whom are major fans of reality television]. The shear fact that a gay man was on the show sends huge messages to younger [and older] people in remote and country regions of our country that there are other people who feel the way they do - if he stopped just ONE youth from suiciding in the bush from his presence then he succeeded in his quest. Please look at the broader picture! You can also read a rather in-depth interview in the October Issue of Q Magazine [down loadable at www.qmagazine.com.au].

Whether or not I would vote for David would depend on both his personal policies and the policies of the party he was representing - two very separate issues.

I strongly agree with the comment that "Gay Rights" should be considered "Human Rights" and disagree with many of the policies of our many lobby groups around this country. Having said that however, we would not need to push a gay agenda if governments throughout the world would simply embrace a totally inclusive "Human Rights" policy. Unfortunately we do not live in an ideal world, and if using "Gay Rights" [and all that it represents] pushes governments into being more inclusive, then maybe it is not such a bad thing. This is by no means a simple situation and one which continue [in my opinion] to divide our community - which is not a good thing at all.

My two cents worth :)

[Christian Taylor]

brett - all very valid and interesting comments. big brother is one of those shows where it's all a popularity contest and this can make it hard for it to become a platform for anything else. i am sure that david is a genuine guy, that did come across to a certain extent... i suppose some people make damning statements without articulating themselves very well.

i feel sorry for anyone that becomes thrust into the spotlight, especially when they also find themselves a spokesperson for a community as diverse as the gay one! as a culture we come from ALL walks of life, and go out into the world to find each other - as such we are as diverse as it gets, and everyone is going to have a different opinion.

at the end of the day, however david chooses to get his messages out there, if he does succeed in breaking down some barriers, especially in rural areas, then good luck to him.

nobody can please everyone, that is very much a certainty - i guess all one can aim to do is to be the change they wish to see in the world, and try their best to remain true to themselves in the process.

i am curious to see where he heads from here.

[Brett Hayhoe]

I agree Christian. Apart from owning Q Magazine, I am also President of PLWHA (Vic), Secretary of Pride March (Vic), Secretary of AHAG, a State Rep on NAPWA [and about 5 other associated committees and boards] and know what it is like to be subect to public comment - both positive and negative. I do appreciate the comments made about David and know that NO-ONE is going to please all of the people all of the time. I do hope you and the rest of the people involved in SameSame have a fabby Festive Season and look forward to the site becoming even bigger and better in 2007 xoxo

[Christian Taylor]

hey thanks brett, same (same) back at ya! we've got some fab plans for next year - so stay tuned, we think you'll be suitably impressed...

[jimjazz]

well, thank goodness some commonsense prevailed here!

isn't it amazing how quick we are to judge someone, particularly if they are in the spotlight.

graham has made, and is making, an enormous difference for all of us by demonstrating his courage under bizarre circumstances. had anyone of us been in the big brother house, would we have known what our reactions might have been?

he is to be commended for giving of his time and having a profile that is changing attitudes.

in the meantime, those who wish to jump in and make assumptions about people, might like to consider that a symptom of inner peace is a loss of interest in judging others.

"choose your words with care; go forth with love."

jazz x

[jimmyjames]

his somewhat questionable performance at fair day leaves me in some doubt as to his aptitude for politics...

'nuff said

[danny corvini]

I don't think you can say that David never asked for the "King of the Fags" title. Anyone who goes on Big Brother, and then spends to much time doing appearances on the gay scene afterwards, at least had an inkling of a desire for the life.
Or maybe it's just that we as the gay community collectively seek out "celebrities" to be our own, to do PA's at our events, and being somewhat outside the traditional gay stereotypes, David is it for now.
I think David did an enormous amount of good, just for being on the show, and by being himself and hence being likeable (to most) and hence challenging stereotypes of queers.
But post Big Brother, I don't think David has a hell of a lot to say. I think he could do some good in politics, for the Nationals or otherwise (probably best in the nationals I would think), but as for the gay community and being so bereft of real personalities and celebrities as we are (outside the drag world), I don't see too much coming out of giving David a microphone (like at Midsumma Carnival). Because at the end of the day, he is a reality TV show survivor, ie a normal human being, not a "star" who has made themselves such because of their performances. What performances do you perform once you have left a reality TV show?

[meezon04]

I was reading in the paper today he's co-hosting at Big Gay Day next weekend. How exciting!

[genkij]

Yawwwwn .. Gawd he is sooo DAM Boring !!

Sista PALease Get back into the closie !!

[jackie87]

Lets not forget the Nationals have a marvellous track record of gay rights...

Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen ensured that homosexual acts remained illegal throughout most of the 1980's in Queensland during his highly corrupt reign

John Cobb federal member for Parkes put a bill through parliament that stopped the ABC from broadcasting the Mardi Gras

Ian Sinclair, deputy Opposition Leader throughout the 80's blamed the Hawke government's policies on contributing to the spread of AIDS and suggested people with the virus live in isolation.

Barnaby Joyce, rogue but still devoutly Catholic senator complaining about Queer as Folk being shown on the SBS even at post watershed as it "disgusted him with the portrayals of gay sex"

David has got a lot of catching up to do, especially courting the rabid Christian right, I say good luck to him and try and make a change for the better.

[ap_bcd]

I recall speaking to David about his politics and he said "We will never change the conservative parties from the outside, we need to be inside them to make them change". Seems to be a valid point to me, especially if you look at how some religious groups (Uniting church and some Anglicans) have been changed by Gays staying within their groups.

[jackie87]

I am not religious and I think that even puts me to a disadvantage in my own party, as I doubt in America there will be a single atheist President. The Christian values debate has been extended to politicians, as we have Kevin Rudd out there going on about his faith.