Darren Hayes Is Not George Michael Or Graham Norton

International News, By Christian Taylor, 23rd July, 2009

Darren Hayes, former Savage Garden singer and inaugural Same Same 25er has let loose about gay stereotyping from the mainstream media.

In a recent edition of UK magazine Gay Times he said: “I have a whole issue about mainstream pop and certainly television culture, and how damaging that is in terms of dumbing down being gay. All those clichés about being gay I think are really limiting whereas in reality it’s just a trait, it’s like eye colour or hair colour, it’s a physical trait.”

The UK based singer, who married his partner Richard Cullen in 2006, also criticised notions that being gay is somehow ‘an indulgent choice’.

“It infuriates me. You’re either Graham Norton or George Michael getting arrested in parks and I’m neither of those things.”

Hayes believes that shows like Will And Grace are to blame.

“I think it appeals to the lowest common denominator that basically there are two types of gay men, the slut, or there’s the straight acting guy,” he said.

Last year, during an interview with Triple J’s Hack program, Hayes opened up about coming out and the effect that being openly gay has had on his career.

“Does coming out affect your career? I would say yes and no. I think to my audience, honestly, I don’t think it’s affected me one bit. The only possibly negative aspect to it from my point of view has been I’ve felt marginalised. I have felt categorised within the music industry. It’s the thing that every artist wants to avoid, because you are suddenly viewed from through this prism, which is ‘Gay!’.

“I’ll give you an example from a record company point of view. When I came out to the head of Sony Records, or Columbia Records in New York City, the only difference is in meetings before hand, the President would shake my hand – and then after the fact, he would kiss me on the cheek. And that kiss on the cheek to me felt patronising. It used to remind me that suddenly I was viewed as somebody else.”

Your Thoughts

gbin

said ages ago

To be honest I don't think Australians have a gay representative we can really be proud of. Its hard because that person has the doubly burden of proving their 'normality' to heterosexual Australia but also maintaining their integrity in our own community. I think as a community are pretty scathing of our own kind but I definately agree with you Darrensmith about television being responsible for damage though cheap ratings and commercially motivated entertainment. Did anyone see the fast forward of glee? Funny how the two main characters were white kids and the back up singers were a fat black chick. an asian and (the new kid on the block) a femme gay kid I would like to know hypothetically speaking what qualities and attributes we'd want in an 'out and proud' person. From the covers of our MCVs you'd think he needed to be completely ripped and sexual. Maybe he is really camp and comedic. maybe like rudeboy86 pointed out he is just an ordinary nobody who loves to play the 'gay' card all the time. None of these things are particularly palatable to me.

Asherbella

said ages ago

To be honest I don't think Australians have a gay representative we can really be proud of. Its hard because that person has the doubly burden of proving their 'normality' to heterosexual Australia but also maintaining their integrity in our own community. I think as a community are pretty scathing of our own kind but I definately agree with you Darrensmith about television being responsible for damage though cheap ratings and commercially motivated entertainment. Did anyone see the fast forward of glee? Funny how the two main characters were white kids and the back up singers were a fat black chick. an asian and (the new kid on the block) a femme gay kid I would like to know hypothetically speaking what qualities and attributes we'd want in an 'out and proud' person. From the covers of our MCVs you'd think he needed to be completely ripped and sexual. Maybe he is really camp and comedic. maybe like rudeboy86 pointed out he is just an ordinary nobody who loves to play the 'gay' card all the time. None of these things are particularly palatable to me. Which begs the question: what makes a 'good' gay role model? I think we look for inspiration outside of ourselves too much. Why can't we inspire ourselves? Why can't *we* be our our own 'representatives'?

rudeboy86

said ages ago

From the covers of our MCVs you'd think he needed to be completely ripped and sexual. Maybe he is really camp and comedic. maybe like rudeboy86 pointed out he is just an ordinary nobody who loves to play the 'gay' card all the time. None of these things are particularly palatable to me. It doesn't always have to be "he"...how about "she" or "sie" or "ze" or "them". Let's not keep it only male. How about somebody who is not either stick thin or stacked with washboard abs. Try somebody who is average in build, maybe with an extra kilo or two and possibly not smooth chested or smooth back or arms or legs. Can't be expecting us to look up to some sort of gym-bunny clone.

pioneer_to_the_falls

said ages ago

Proof? You clearly stated that you were talking about him being runner up though. Re-read your original post :p Everyone hates being typecast. If it's not your sexuality, it's your religion, nationality, socio-economic status, education, etc etc. Annoying, but I don't think it'll ever change...

Asherbella

said ages ago

Proof? You clearly stated that you were talking about him being runner up though. Re-read your original post :p Everyone hates being typecast. If it's not your sexuality, it's your religion, nationality, socio-economic status, education, etc etc. Annoying, but I don't think it'll ever change... Oh, yeah, in real life, yeah. But typecasting (in a professional setting) can actually help a person's career. It's their meal ticket. Robert De Niro has made millions from being typecast as the Italian-American mafiosa thug. Can you imagine De Niro playing Prospero, King Lear or any other Shakespearean role? lol;)

hazyinseptember

said ages ago

It doesn't always have to be "he"...how about "she" or "sie" or "ze" or "them". Let's not keep it only male. How about somebody who is not either stick thin or stacked with washboard abs. Try somebody who is average in build, maybe with an extra kilo or two and possibly not smooth chested or smooth back or arms or legs. Can't be expecting us to look up to some sort of gym-bunny clone. again that's not a just a gay thing... modern straight culture has plenty of that too...

rudeboy86

said ages ago

again that's not a just a gay thing... modern straight culture has plenty of that too... Oh I am aware of the body image that is thrust upon us in the Queer world and the straight world.

gbin

said ages ago

Which begs the question: what makes a 'good' gay role model? I think we look for inspiration outside of ourselves too much. Why can't we inspire ourselves? Why can't *we* be our our own 'representatives'? I definately agree with you but the problem is that because our identities aren't really affirmed anywhere in the media its hard for a young person (or indeeed any person) comming to terms with part of themselves to gain the tools to build that kind of confidence. I'm sure we all agree that to be your own repreentative takes a fair amount of confidence and security that takes time to build. I know that young people are able now to use mediums like the internet and exercise a high agency in seeking out and compiling the scattered and short threads of GLBTIQ content. I worry that the process of having to seek out what seems 'invisible' exacerbates a feeling of seperation from the mainstream world. It is therefore necessary to have some kind of 'lighthouse' figures. You're right rudeboy86 they don't have to be male (the new High court'sBell J). I think if we are compiling a list of the attributes a gay role model needs then a quality is the ability to be confident and open about their sexual identity and membership to our comunity but also to know when it is appropriate to raise the topic and be able to achieve in their chosen field (science, law, diving, business, etc.) without feeling the need to always be 'gay'. For this reason I think figureheads in the entertainment industry (which makes its money out of selling love and sex) are problematic as role models because figures like Darren Hayes, Anthony Callea are limited in an occupation that sees them only as two dimensional 'celebrities' (hence the stereotypes they play into) and not as 'role models' or 'real people' like say the former Kirby J was and continues to be. At the same time I'm not really convinced by my argument because it is precisely because of their celebrity status and the interest in pop culture that perhaps their is a certain power that can be harnessed for change when we have such a political deadlock. What do you guys reckon is the best place for our 'hypothetical' role model to launch himself ? Is it the entertainment industry? night club scene, community media, politics or etc?

joejoe84

said ages ago

This was heavily edited upon release but I've read a bit about how Simon Amstell's grilling of Hayes's sexuality in the interview below pushed him over the edge and forced him to come out. Not that it was a massive surprise (I always though Darren Hayes was gay and out) but it was pretty harsh of Amstell to try and out him on TV. Having said all that Amstell is still one of my favorite TV personalities and certainly doesn't conform to the gay stereotype. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uAbgfTb8zk

gbin

said ages ago

buzzkill

There are 8 more comments

View them all

To post a comment, you need to be a SameSame Member

Log-in now or signup for a new account