The inspirational community: Henry Rollins and gay-rights.

If you can nd some happiness in your life-time, do not walk towards it, run at it. If Lorraine likes Susan, so what? Isnt it great that two chicks dig each other? Or two human beings have found enough common ground where they fall deliriously in love? Dont you wish it happened to you tomorrow? Hell yes! - Henry Rollins, Talk is Cheap Volume 4, 2004.1 From front-man of the California based hard-core punk rock band Black Flag in the 1980s, to grammy award winning spoken word artist in the 1990s, to entrepreneur, author and actor, Henry Rollins is an iconoclast whos work ethic astounds and inspires. These days, he tours relentlessly across the globe performing spoken word-comedy-story telling shows in which he moves from the pithy to the poignant and (as living example), to the inspirational. It is a dening feature of his work. A ubiquitous message of the importance of critical engagement united with a compassionate humanism that, by necessity, transcends all gender, racial and cultural divisions. Rollins commitment to this is never more apparent and incisive than when he talks of the continued chastisement and vilication of people upon the bases of gender and sexuality. In commenting upon his views in 2010, he highlighted the exigency of speaking out against sexual discrimination: To see that kind of discrimination, it occurred to me that its as bad as racism and as stupid and lethal. People die over this stuff, so you better believe I make a lot of noise about it.2 Rollins however, is working from a position of privilege that he has been able to construct from a life of work and it is to his credit that he doesnt forget for a moment this privilege. Consequently, he seizes every possible opportunity to communicate his positive message. His message and his position of privilege however, highlights a critical point which we as an audience are summoned to. That is, that sexual discrimination, prejudice and the continued campaign against gay-rights will never be overcome without our own personal commitment towards compassion and critical engagement within our immediate communities and broader society. This is not to suggest that there is some absence of action here in Australia. Quite to the contrary. The continued growth of concrete action, open discourse and public action against gay discrimination is a tremendous achievement which is creating new opportunities for all of us. What Rollins is speaking of and exemplifying though, is both less and more at the same time. It is ultimately the moment to moment challenge we all face as humans, with limited time, limited resources and hurtling through this one-way trip of the mortal life. For Rollins, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, every day makes him more aware of this fact
1 2

Henry Rollins, Kevin and Sean; 1:30-1:50 Talk is Cheap Vol.4, (2004).

Garrett Bithell Kicking against the pricks, 13th April 2010, MCV, available online at http:// mcv.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/features/kicking-against-the-pricks-007257.html. Last accessed 21 June 2011.

and thus he seeks with all the physical energy he can muster to communicate his messages of compassion, humanism and critical engagement. For many of us however (approaching the mid-way of the twenties myself), it can be hard to feel the urgency for life that Rollins does. This does not mean though that this is not just as important to me, or you. It sounds pithy but, seizing the moment is an apt description of what Rollins is urging all of us to do. But it is not necessarily however, the seizure of a grand moment of protest, or the participation in a single moment of upheaval or unity that he means. It is the little moments that we can all become more aware of. It is the little moments such as the coffee with a friend at a cafe, the conversation on a bus, the sharing of lunch at work, the email or letter to a friend, the blog, the poem, the smallest gestures of friendship and assistance, which impresses upon each of us and builds the strongest links of community. If this passing moment of now is all we have to communicate and act within, then it must be the smallest of gestures and expressions that become the most important for us to be aware of, and to act upon. Some moments we create or nd ourselves swept up within will force us into confrontation with other individuals or groups of people who sincerely believe that discrimination upon sexual, racial, geographic or social bases is not merely acceptable, but justied. These are crucial moments and events in our lives to be sure. But they are fewer and less frequent than the opportune moments when we have the privilege of someones company, or someone willing to listen, or a space to write and communicate, such as here, right now, in Querelle. Hence, if you hold true the ideals of equality, sexual liberty and freedom from discrimination, prejudice and hatred, then standing up for what you believe in is a calling for each of us. But how we manifest these ideals however, is not connable to a meeting, protest or article: these large gestures are only made possible by the smallest sympathies, the minor moments of compassion and the simple gestures of friendship and solidarity as human beings. There is something to be said here of the notion of inspiration, or what it may be to inspire. Rollins communicates what he can within the time and spaces he creates and nds himself within and strives to seize upon every opportunity, large or small, to foster the creation of environments wherein violence and discrimination against sexual orientation is neither tolerated nor facilitated. He is courageous and relentless, but distant contemporary gures like Rollins cannot be the only sources of inspiration. The people who inspire us most, who push us to be brave in our commitment to our beliefs must be ourselves: we must support each other and strive to grow the vital relationships that generate supportive communities both on and off campuses. To strengthen these fragile bonds of humanity, is to strengthen the possibilities of creating a society of acceptance and embracement. Today, with so many gains made by dedicated and inspirational people already, it is more important than ever to continue these works, large and small. Because, the environment and society we face here in Australia still does not live up to our demands for an equal and just society when it comes to gay-rights. It is this historical situation we face, wherein intolerance and violence against people of differing sexual orientations is still

present, which we as human beings are called upon by the fact of our existence to change. As long as our societies, locally, nationally and internationally continue to allow such discrimination then our work remains before us, awaiting our exertion and effort. In all of the tasks we have ahead of us in overcoming discrimination against sexual orientation, gender and race, it will only be through the strength of our communities and the strength of the relationships that constitute these communities, which will see us though. It is not something which is dependent upon a particular form of media, or a particular strategy of argument or political organisation. Though these are important instruments of engagement and action, it will be our commitment to each other that will provide the support and resolve for us to continue creating communities and societies of equality, tolerance and freedom of sexual orientation. I confess that I am an ardent admirer of Henry Rollins. He is a magnanimous and committed man who inspires me and many of my friends. But it is my friends and the community which we foster through our interactions and mutual support that inspires me most. To see and listen to the many courageous men and women Ive met at the ANU campus in Canberra who persist in standing up for their beliefs and their rights inspires me daily to commit myself to them and their works. From this I have no doubt that we can, and will, create a society in which we all may have the chance to fall deliriously in love with whoever we may choose to be with. Jason Andrews.