Putting Words In Missy's Mouth

Local News, By Christian Taylor, 21st November, 2007

It’s been the media beat up of the week and has generated headlines such as “Shock Revelation! Missy Higgins Is A Lesbian!”, “Higgins Admits ‘I’m Definitely Not Straight’” and “Missy Higgins’ Sexuality Revealed”. We may have seen it plastered all over the front page of the Sunday papers, but now that we’ve had some time to really think about it, one has to wonder just how true these claims are.

Katrina Fox’s interview with Missy was actually published a couple of months ago in Cherrie’s September issue. It was a piece that showed Missy in a different light – a little more human, more open, and rejecting the labels that are often put on her. However, since the story was snatched up and taken out of context by the mainstream press, it seems that labelling is all that’s she’s copped.

Missy was actually asked if she fell under the magazine’s demographic of being a ‘not so straight’ girl, which she said she did, before adding, “I think a lot of people fall under that broad umbrella term.” She then went on to speak about sexuality generally, saying “I think sexuality is a fluid thing and it’s becoming increasingly more acceptable to admit that you’re that way.” Do these words constitute ‘coming out’? Is it fair for these words to then be paraphrased to say, “I’m not straight, therefore I’m gay?”

Missy hasn’t come forward this week to say anything more on the matter, although that’s hardly surprising, given that in the original interview with Cherrie she said, “I don’t feel comfortable with talking about anything from my personal life.” One can see why.

Staff at EMI – Missy’s record label, say that she won’t be releasing a statement about the matter.

It’s a shame that Missy’s words couldn’t have been used more positively in the mainstream arena, opening up perceptions instead of breaking them down for the lowest common denominator.

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