Brody's Notes... On being young & Gay; All Politics Is Local

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) Oct 6 | {Part 2 in an ongoing series} When I first started this series of articles; 'On being young and Gay,' I had originally focused exclusively on a dynamic group of young individuals living and working here in the greater Washington D. C. metropolitan area. I soon became aware that perspectives from all over the globe should be included in this effort and was assisted by BN&S Correspondent Tim Trent, who put me in touch with 24 year old Shem Bennett, a university student & political activist from Melbourne, Australia. As the late, former United States Speaker of the House of Representatives, Thomas P. 'Tip' O'Neill, once said; 

"All politics is local..."

I took an opportunity to interview Shem and get some more in depth details about him, his politics, and his take on being Gay in today's world. Shem had written an excellent essay on the difficulties he had found in being gay and out even though he lives in a fairly tolerant society in Australia. (Essay) He is in a committed loving relationship that has been 4 years now and still has issues with what most might term; 'full disclosure.'

Shem was born and raised in Launceston, graduating from Newstead College in 2002. In 2003 he spent 18 months in the Kansai region of Japan teaching English to primary school children in an after-school program.
He is currently studying for his Bachelor of Arts, majoring in political science and linguistics. In the future he hopes to return to Japan and open a bilingual school, as he feels education is the foundation of a strong and progressive society.
Shem has had an interest in politics since High School and he explored many political parties before joining Australia's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a party based on classical liberal principles. He has a particular interest in fighting for social equality, in particular equal legal rights for same-sex couples.

BL: Thank you for taking the time from your hectic University schedule to talk to me. I realise that a student actually has little free time, so my first question is about your political aspirations. You stood for federal office in 2007 in your hometown electorate of Bass. Would this have interfered with your academic matriculation at the University of Melbourne?
SHEM: Well running for a minor party without many resources a large part of our campaign was run online so I was able to campaign remotely. It was fairly intense, but the timing of the election fit in nicely around my studies, 

BL: I am curious as to why you felt that the LDP was a good fit for your political beliefs. Is this party more Gay friendly on the issues than other parties there in Australia?

SHEM: Well, there’s a number of parties in Australia that support GLBT issues, but where the LDP differs is that we are strongly based on classical liberal ideas of small government. That means we’re not supportive of affirmative action towards gay people or in favour of anti-discrimination laws, but we do believe the government itself has to treat people equally and that includes recognising same-sex marriage. We think that people in society have different views regarding sexuality and that the government shouldn’t try and force a particular viewpoint- that means bigoted religious groups and old ladies should allowed to be bigoted even though I might find their bigoted behaviour personally repulsive and they might find my “homosexual behaviour” personally repulsive. We embrace difference of opinion and think that battles about morality of things like homosexuality need to be fought outside of the government. I’m all for trying to get people to accept homosexuality as normal, but I refuse to use the coercive power of government to force them to change their minds. So in answer to your question the LDP isn’t the only gay friendly party in Australia. But we definitely believe the government has no place in regulating personal lives and relationships. And we’re the only party in Australia that has a low-tax platform while also being socially progressive on issues like gay marriage- so we have a bit of a niche there. 

BL: A major component of any political undertaking, especially running a campaign is funding. Did you find that people were inclined to contribute to an openly Gay man's run for office?

SHEM: Well it was the LDP’s first federal election and the LDP is still quite a small party. That means the goal of the campaign wasn’t to try and compete against the major parties but just to raise awareness about our beliefs and what we stand for. The party, as a result, was more or less self-funding with candidates putting up as much money as they could themselves and raising as much as they could raise from friends and family.I did do leafleting at train stations during the campaign to try and get our message and position out there and we openly advertised our low-tax, pro-gay marriage position. I had a mix of reactions there- mostly positive- but a few people were going to take a leaflet until they saw “support gay marriage”  printed on it. 

BL: My follow-up question is whether or not your age and lack of experience played a role in the campaign as opposed to the Gay issue?

SHEM: Well to be honest I don’t think I ever got a mention in the media during the campaign so any critique of my age or sexuality was more on a personal level. Some people I met thought that I’d be too young for office- but as a young person the very act of running was a great experience for me. Beyond that, though, I think young people are really under-represented in politics and it’s good for younger people to be as involved in the political game as they can be. Whether that’s running as a candidate, joining a political party or supporting another candidate in their electoral efforts. Too often the concerns of younger people are ignored by the major parties who pander to the concerns of “working families” and the elderly. But unmarried people and young people both have the vote and their concerns need better representation. There’s a reason why in Australia younger people are more likely to be undecided or apathetic about politics- it’s because there’s no-one that takes their concerns seriously.  

BL: Did the LDP leadership offer you unequivocal support during your campaign run and did they seem to ever take issue over your being Gay?

SHEM: Well, being a minor party they weren’t in a position to be choosey! Just kidding, in reality they were very supportive and glad to have a gay man running alongside the other candidates. For a party with a pro-gay marriage platform it was a little weird that for a while they didn’t have any gay candidates. It does go to show that we are a party of principle, though. We aren’t just out to win votes, but to try and protect the rights of individuals- whether they vote for us or not.  

BL: You stated in your essay, that oft times in some circumstances, you found it awkward to be 'out' or open about being Gay. Did this affect you and your partner in a negative way while you were campaigning?

SHEM: Well, I was the first openly gay member of the LDP and while everyone in the party opposes the government ban on same-sex marriage it can make it a little awkward relating with other members of the party. They are talking about their wives and kids and suburban lifestyle and I’m living with another man. Sexuality wasn’t the only thing that made it hard to relate, though. Most others involved with the party were older than me and were working full-time. I’ve spent time living overseas and I’m still a student so my perspective on cultural norms was different.Deciding the issues to campaign on was a divisive issue within the party at times. I’m of the belief that most Australian support gay marriage and that’s it’s a vote winning issue with the current government just lagging behind as it panders to religious groups. But others in the party from different backgrounds thought that gay marriage is something we should support- but quietly because it could turn people off. On the other hand those same people wanted to be more vocal about our firearms policy thinking it was a vote winner- but to me, given my background I was a lot more sceptical of taking that as an issue to the electorate.  

BL: As a 24 year old, you have grown up in a world of the Internet playing a major role in communications across the globe that has indeed made this world smaller. It has, by all accounts, made it easier to be Gay insofar as there is a significant group of Gay folk there on-line that you can interact with and gain support with in difficult times. Was this an important factor for you once you had determined that you were Gay and did you actively search for this support?

SHEM: Well really it was the internet that allowed me to actually realise that my interest about other guys was in fact because I was gay. I was really dumb in my teen years- I had some major crushes- but I never connected the dots. When I got online at 16, being a horny 16 year old one of my first searches was for porn, I wasn’t actively searching for gay porn I think my search was “naked young guys”. But all the results were from gay websites and it really got me thinking.After I finally realised what was going on I did really need support, especially growing up in Tasmania. I first met Tim Trent through his website back in 1997 and it was one of the places I could go to and discuss the coming out process with.But the internet made it easy in other ways, too. The first two real life friends I came out to was using MSN messenger and I was able to talk to them a lot about what I was going through without the embarrassment of trying to get the words up face-to-face.I honestly can’t imagine what I would have done without the internet, but I can guarantee that I would have been in a much darker place for a lot longer.

BL: What is the most important factor to you as a young Gay man in your personal life, as I am hearing that the major emphasis from the 20 some-things that I am interviewing is, “It's NOT about the sex!”

SHEM: I’d almost disagree with that statement, because to me the only thing that makes me gay IS the sex- or to be more specific the sexual attraction. But if you mean my life in general- well definitely there’s a lot more going on than me being gay, there’s a lot more going on than sex. Being gay, having sex with another guy, that’s as small (and as big) a part of my life as any straight person’s relationship. So, I mean, it is important, but at the same time I have more in common with other straight computer nerds my age than I have in common with a lot of other gay men my age. Being gay to me is only about who I get with and who I want to get with- and as far as identity issues go that’s a small part of who I am. 

BL: What would you say are the most pressing issues that are facing your LGBT peers, a short list if you will and then the immediate follow up is why so. 

SHEM: Legal recognition is a big one. Followed by social acceptance. We have a long way to go until we’re simply treated as “normal, but different”. I sometimes daydream about the ideal society and what attitudes to sexuality would be like. I think perhaps the ideal is a society where being gay is like being left handed- normal, but different. Or perhaps the ideal is a society were sexual orientation isn’t even recognised as different but is seen as one expression of love that some people may have a preference towards. If that makes any sense. The analogy I like to use is chocolate and vanilla- some people prefer chocolate, some prefer vanilla- most people try both chocolate and vanilla at some stage in their lives but most of us are inexplicably drawn to one over the other. I think society would be much healthier if sexual was seen as no more important than flavour preference. That’s all a bit tangential to the real battles, though. The legal battles that will give gay couples the ability to marry and all the rights that go along with that. The right to adopt. We’ve come a long way legally from the days when homosexuality itself was illegal. I’d say the legal fight is almost over- in countries like Australia moreso than countries like the USA. But then the social fight begins. It’s one thing to have a people allow gay marriage, but for them to believe it’s okay is a totally separate thing. People are innately scared of the different and abnormal. I think our very psychology will result in discrimination and hate. We have a tendency to see things in groups. To see the inside and the outside. It’ll be a long battle before GLBT people are seen as “inside” the way left-handers or vanilla lovers are now.  

BL: Standing for a political office and also making note of the statements from your campaign literature, I take it that you see yourself as an up and coming leader in Australia's politics. What do you have to offer to the LGBT community as well as the straight community that most would see as a viable alternate to current politicians?

SHEM: Well the LDP stands for freedom first and foremost and we’re consistent on that point. We want to give you freedom over your personal life and freedom over your own wallet. We’re the only political party in Australia that wants the government to shrink so if you don’t like politicians we’re with you! We don’t like them either. It probably seems a little hypocritical being an anti-political political party, but we really do want to change the way politics is conducted. Too often government is seen as being this omnibenevolent, omnipotent force. But politicians aren’t gods- they are humans. People should be able to live their own lives without interference, they should be able to spend their own money, make their own choices. Even if we don’t all agree on the “right” choices for life it’s not the place of government to make those decisions for us.On gay rights, well it’s self-explanatory really. Being gay isn’t a choice and the government should have no authority to regulate sexuality. Moral regarding sex should be kept out of the public arena because everyone’s moral code is different and we’ll all be happier if we just worry about our own moral code instead of trying to control everyone’s elses.  

BL: How does your partner view this political activity? Does he support your efforts?

SHEM: He’s supportive but uninterested. He likes to debate me and challenge my ideas, which is great mental food. And I’m sure he’d follow me whatever path I took (and I him). His successes are more likely to come elsewhere. I get my kicks from ideals, but he’d rather pursue a more concrete life. 

BL: Do you see yourself as truly making a difference? And a follow-up would be; Can you see yourself eventually as a Minister of the government or even the Prime Minister?

SHEM: I believe that I could if I wanted to- I don’t feel there’s a glass ceiling in Australian politics stopping gay candidates- the federal leader of the Greens Party- Bob Brown is gay. But my interests have shifted since I stood in the last federal election. I’m still a member of the LDP and I still support its goals, but I’m more interested in political philosophy and ideas than I am in being Prime Minister. I may run as a candidate in the future, but I’ll be making sure it’s in a capacity where I have no chance of being elected. I’d rather be a Robert Nozick than a George W Bush.  

BL: Would you mind describing a bit of your history and background? Also, Your experiences as a young Gay man and your family if its possible.

SHEM: Well I’m from a single-parent family in Launceston, Tasmania. Launceston’s a small city of about 80,000 or so. I grew up as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormons) and I was always “the smart kid” at school, church and home. I first started noticing other guys at around maybe eleven or twelve, but it wasn’t until 16 that I connected my feelings with the possibility that I might be gay.It took about a year of some deep soul searching along with some really dark patches to reconcile my sexuality with myself and with the religion I’d grown up with but by 17 I was a lot more conformable with it and I had my first relationship with a friend from school. After year 12 when I was 18 I moved to Japan. Japan was an eye-opening experience and while I didn’t find romance there I did meet quite a few gay Japanese men.After coming back to Australia I met my current partner who I’ve been with since. Everything just fell into place with him. I’ve never been a huge part of the gay “scene”. Most of my free time’s spent online: either reading blogs, wikis, forum or playing a game of one sort or another. As I said earlier, though, to me being gay is just about who I want to sleep live and who I want to be in a relationship with. There’s work to be done legally, but being a part of a “gay community” has never been that important to me. I have to admit I’ve been blessed by having a supportive network of friends and family, though. I can count on one hand the number of people close to me that have cared deeply about me being gay. To most people it’s a non issue- even my partner’s 13 year old cousin who I met recently was entirely nonchalant about it- “you guys kiss? Oh that’s cute”. I hope my experiences in that regard will be replicated by every gay teen growing up and coming out. Gay youth need support networks but I hope that in the future gay support networks will become obsolete as gay youth get all the support they need from their friends and families.  

BL: Has attending University changed any of your views on life and what expectations you had of society and the role you felt you would play in it?

SHEM: University has been a great experience that has opened up my eyes and got me to think about things in a lot of different ways. I was spoilt by my time in Japan, though, which was the real eye opener. After having to support myself in a foreign country coming back to a school environment was almost something of a let-down. The mental stimulus is great, without a doubt, but I feel I learnt a lot more about myself and society in general by living and working abroad.  

BL: How do you see the recent government of the territory of Tasmania's recognition of LGBT Marriage as a politician and then as a Gay Man?

SHEM: Well being originally from Tasmania I think it’s great that a state often looked at as being rural and behind the times is actually leading the charge closer and closer to gay marriage. While legally the change is very minor it’s a huge change for gay couples who now have the ability to register their union during the ceremony. It’s these symbolic changes that really do mean a lot to the individual couples who are very emotionally invested in their own ceremonies. Of course I’m still not satisfied. And until there’s full legal entitlement I won’t be. But it’s a step closer. 

BL: Here is your chance to cover any topic I have not so please feel free to discuss away.

SHEM: Just on politics I’d really encourage people to get involved. So many people I meet are apathetic about politics and ideas despite often having some really strongly held opinions. I think we have a responsibility to ourselves to make democracy matter and to stand up for what we believe in. But also to challenge what we believe in and not just accept what our friends or family have told us, even if it seems to make sense on the surface.  

BL: Thank you again for agreeing to be interviewed Shem.

SHEM: You’re welcome.