Melbourne left me gasping for more

So I’m back in Sydney after a week and a half in sunny / not sunny Melbourne. I had a really fantastic time performing at Upstart Alley and catching up with a few old friends.  

Upstart Alley is a passionate and supportive event which nurtures actual queer art. Seeming uninfluenced by Melbourne’s famous concern for what is fashionable and palatable they put on an event which is truly queer and I strongly recommend to artists and punters.  

It’s always great to visit Melbourne to remind myself why I live in Sydney. I can never quite put my finger on exactly what aggravates me so much about Melbourne. Some air of pretension or overt self consciousness that always leaves me wanting.  

I think it’s clear that ultimately one is either a Sydney person or a Melbourne person and forcing any kind of cross pollination is foolish. In my six years living in melbourne I always felt as though the “Gay” and “Queer” and “Bear” scenes were so much more uptight than i had hoped for. Perhaps it’s me. Beware expectation for disappointment follows. Something puts me on edge.

Obviously I’m not welcome among “the gays” because i’m too Queer. Apparently I’m not welcome among the Queers because my work isn’t featured in some underground magazine thats about to be fashionable and I’m not welcome among the Bears because i’m too Queer.   

The great thing about Sydney is that we know were a seething a pit of filth and were not pretending to be anything else.

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