Buck$ Night Photo Album

Fucking brilliant night!!! And even better friends.




In fact, making the call early, most fun party of 2011!




Buck$ Night was an Australian Marriage Equality fundraiser so they can continue their amazing work fighting for gay marriage recognition. Congratulations and thank you to Alex Greenwich and AME, not only for a fabulous night but also for working so hard on behalf of the gay and lesbian community.




Now they say a picture says a 1000 words. I think you'll agree that these pictures show exactly how much fun Buck$ Night was. Enjoy!

My boys... Paulie, Shaun, EnGy, Dimples, TheFlack, Dazzle, Miles, Brad, Ross, Jonny, Adam, Rhys and our new favourites Alex and Victor - LOVE YOU GUYS! Thanks for a fantastic night for a brilliant and worthwhile cause. 




xoxoxo

St. Murphy




P.S and thanks so much EnGy for letting me use some of your photos. x

Buck$ Night

Just cause we can’t get married doesn’t mean we can’t have a Bucks Night! Why should the straights have all the fun?

If there’s one thing the gayers know how to do well its have a good time. Only natural then that there would come a time when we’d want to put our own spin on this homo-erotic, straight-boy tradition.

The very, very smart people at Australian Marriage Equality (AME) are holding a fundraiser this Friday, Buck$ Night and Hen$ Night. GENIUS!!! AME need all the support – and cash – they can get as they are leading the charge to bring about marriage equality in Oz. They are good people doing phenomenal work. And I think this event is just the most brilliant idea to raise money and awareness.

So all our little Twitter cool-gang are going. I’m moist with excitement. And any other boys who’d like to join us you’d be more than welcome. I’m expecting that Buck$ Night could be my absolute favourite night of the year! Even topping the night I split my head open at the Imperial after JoThornely’s 40th.

Slide Bar & Cabaret

I do love a party. And I especially love a party with a purpose. You are making a difference while drinking cocktails rather than just getting drunk.

Wouldn’t it be ironic if I met my future husband, who I can’t marry, at a Bucks Night to raise money so that we can marry.

Obviously it won’t be a debauched, tacky night like our straight-brothers organize. I imagine it will be very glamorous and stylish and the strippers will have doodles. And dance music! And strobe lighting. And of course there will be drag queens dressed all mother-of-the-bride.

I could live out my dream of being a Flower Girl, it would hardly be inappropriate at such an event. I’d love to turn up in a little pink frilly dress with Baby’s Breath in my hair. With cute little white patent pumps. But I’ve never done drag in my life and I’m not about to start now. Even though I was mistaken for a Lady Boy twice in Thailand.

So boys (and girls) if you are not doing anything this Friday night you’d be mad if you missed it! And if you don’t come I think you should be donating to Australian Marriage Equality anyway.

Buck$ Night

Friday, September 23

9pm to 4am

Slide Bar & Cabaret

Click here to buy your tickets

We're going to make a difference.

Gay marriage, marriage equality, rights of homosexuals, blah blah blah. Yeh, you’ve heard me rant on this topic so much here at St. Murphy. It’s probably the subject I am most passionate about in the world.

Well last night I finally did something about it. After boring everyone with my grandstanding, debating and arguing I’ve finally backed this rhetoric up with some action. I think I’ve officially become an activist. I’ve joined up with Community Action Against Homophobia.

CAAH are the organisers of the Gay Marriage rallies in Sydney. I reached out to them after the last rally, along with some fantastic friends of mine, and offered up our services. See, we are all a bunch of PR/publicity/marketing peeps who felt we could really give some support to the next important rally on Dec 3. And CAAH have welcomed us.

I feel like I have purpose now.

I can’t believe it has actually taken me so many years to get involved with a group like this. I’ve been a very slack hummer-sexual. Have been very happy to reap all the benefits of the gay lifestyle without actually giving anything back to the community. I’m what you would call a very selfish gayer.

But now I’m unbelievably excited to be a part of something that could bring about great change. I met with the CAAH guys last night to see what PR stuff we could do for them. We came up with some great ideas that you’ll hear about shortly. More importantly it was absolutely brilliant to meet people who are so smart, and committed, and passionate about this cause. It was inspiring.

December 3. Mark it in your diaries now. December 3 there is a march from Hyde Park to Darling Harbour. The march is aimed at having an impact on the Gay Marriage debate at the National Labor Party Conference. It’s also a great show of solidarity and community support for marriage equality. I’ll be working with CAAH, along with my activist buddies ShaunHeron, TheFlack and Arrjaydub, to spread the word and raise the profile of the event. We are gonna help get feet on the streets.

You’ve been warned! I expect fabulous support from all my friends at St. Murphy.

I’ve had quite a few twitter and blogging friends offer up support and assistance too. Will be calling on you guys soon. I hope as many of you Sydney-siders as possible join us on the day. We want to have as broad a cross-section of society as possible represented at the march. Everyone has a gay friend, a gay family member or a gay workmate who is discriminated against by not having the same choices available to them as heterosexuals.

That’s what I see as central to this issue. I do not have the same choices available to me as the majority of the population. The law does not recognise my relationships the same way it does heterosexual. The messages this sends my community is that our love is different and not as worthy. I am here to tell you it is. The law must change. I hope I can count on your support. It would mean so much.

Together we can make a difference.

Thank you so much CAAH for giving me the chance to work with you.

Join the Facebook page NOW!

Enough with the Crazies! Time for the cool people.

God damn there have been a lot of crazy people around this week! I’m absolutely max’d out.

What about the American ‘academic’ at the anti-gay marriage rally in Canberra who said that “there is no greater evil” and likened gay marriage to paedophilia.

"It won't stop at homosexual marriage - look for polygamy and marriage between adults and children to be legalised. There is no greater dream for a paedophile than to be able to legally acclaim a child as his lover."

She’s so smart, I literally have no words to respond with.

Then there was Miranda Devine who seemed to blame the London riots on gay marriage and was banging on about straights being second-class citizens. Oh dear. Her retaliation to the outrage her original post caused was even more nonsensical.

Don’t even get me started on Bob Katter and Barnaby Joyce. They were elected by the people so they probably scare me the most.

But I’m real tired of people like these four hogging all of the media attention on the issue of gay marriage. They are not the ones we should be highlighting or drawing attention to.

There are some amazing, beautiful people out there who should be getting all of our attention. They are smart, logical, coherent. They are making their own protest in their own way within their own community. And as far as I’m concerned they are far more important and influential than any of the nutcases mentioned above.

And, most importantly, they come from many different walks of life, varied generations and of all sexualities. Let me introduce some of them to you…

The first is BigWordsBlog. This is a beautiful woman who took it upon herself earlier in the week to start a campaign around the I Love Equal Love button that she created. She encouraged all bloggers who support Equality to post the button on their page. See mine to the right (and above). How fucking brilliant is that! So simple, so smart, so profound. You will see this button everywhere now in the blogosphere. Mums like Bianca have a phenomenal impact on this debate.

Big Words: The Right For Equal Love

Next on my Hero list is Holly_Homemaker. Direct, succinct, her message is as clear as a bell. Miss Holly is another one of the amazing mummy-bloggers who uses her page to speak her mind and make an impact. You can see from this post she says and does whatever she thinks, and you gotta respect that. Here is her post on gay marriage.

Good Golly Miss Holly: Don't be a shit, let them commit! #EqualLove

So you are starting to see why it gives me the shits that the morons mentioned at the top get any media attention.

TwitchyCorner is a brilliant writer. She posted this week on Gay Marriage. My favourite line was on the seperation of church and state… “It’s just that I fail, and will always fail, to see how organised faith has any right to impinge upon the laws and freedoms of the wider, secular population.” You rock Twitchy, could not agree more. Here is her post…

Twitchy Corner: Still Not Enough Gay Lovin About

Faerinelda is a longtime Twitter buddy, and she’s all over this one like a rash. She’s a good woman! My favourite line is “Your religion may shout against it, your heart may not like it and your head might not understand it but just so you know, this is exactly how I feel about people who make pavlova with low fat cream! gasp.”

An Auntie ... Nothing More!: I love #equallove & I love #equallove Take Two

Macsnorky is very cool! So is her blog. She sings from the same hymn book as BigWordsBlog. I love these women!

Desktop and Dust Bunnies: I Love Equal Love

Before we head off to speak with some of my favourite gayers I want Mrs Woog to put her own special Woogsworld spin on this debate. Mrs Woog marched with us last Saturday. Her post that day was inspired!

Woogsworld: Fuck You!

See there are heroes everywhere in our communities who are trying to make a difference and rid of us inequality. I have so much respect for them, so much respect!

And now over to the gays, cause god knows I LOVE THE GAYS!! Arrjaydub is a friend of mine, and is much smarter than me and better with words. He has penned a truly brilliant piece in retaliation to Cruella Devine. His words need to be read by as many people as possible! For he is genius!

The Best Policy: Gay marriage is not a big deal.

“It was about getting together with a group of people with the same goal in mind, getting out on the streets and making sure people knew that you were there to support a cause. It was a protest, but it was also a celebration of who we are, and what we're after.” Very wise words from En_gy. And why I love him.

Bigger on the Inside: Equal love rally. I was there.

Also taking a very clever stab at Cruelle Devine is comedian, influencer and media guy TomCBallard. I love this. Love it A LOT!

Miranda Devine: What The F&*k Are You Talking About?

Final word must go to Dr Kerryn Phelps who has been campaigning for many years for the rights of homosexuals. Her measured, eloquent, and at times amusing response to Cruella was remarkable in its refrainment. I’d love for you to read her piece as a fitting end to this celebration of all those who are fighting the good fight. It is only a matter of time before gay marriage is legalised in Australia as we have so many smart, wonderful, compassionate people fighting for the cause.

The Hoopla: Miranda, A Wine With Your Whine?

So lets not be distracted by the freaks who hog the media spotlight. Lets all focus on the men and women who are making a difference in their own communities with their sensible and eloquent words. 

I love that I have friends who give a shit!

Cause from what I can gather after yesterdays Gay Marriage Rally even most of the gay community doesn’t – or didn’t know it was on!

But I have friends that do. And that’s very, very important to me.

So I’m not going to tell the rather frustrating story of the Rally yesterday, rather I want to talk about my fab friends who I went to the Rally with. Fab and HOT! And very, very funny! Ridiculously smart too. So here are my fab, funny, hot, smart friends who give a shit about Gay Marriage.

Will kickstart with Mrs Woog, the worlds most famous mummy-blogger, and her beautiful son Jazz Hands. Jazz Hands wore a special tutu for the day and he was the delight of the rally. He also had the best seat in the house as he sat on our shoulders. Mrs Woog is my hero.

We had with us the Queen of the Gays, MsCharlotteD, who I am determined to have hosting the next Rally. She is iconic amongst my folk and her dedication to the cause exemplary. Dare I call it her ‘entourage’, MsD was marching alongside committed gayers Arrjaydub, Uueaver and Muzthekid. (and if you haven’t read it already than you must now, Arrjaydub’s guest post!)

My boys. ShaunHeron is an activist from way back and one funny bitch. I’m still not sure En_gy completely agrees with what we were marching for but he was showing support nonetheless god love him! TheFlack and Dazzle will be the first to marry when finally we have choice (well that’s what I think, cause I wanna be a bridesmaid) and two more lovely men you could not meet.

MichelleLLeslie and AdamZammit impress the hell out of me. Only late this week I told them the Rally was on, so what do they do, they come. I know that sounds so simple but a hetero couple jumping at being a part of it says so much about them. New BFF’s, absolutely!

In my humble opinion it’s people like Mrs Woog, MsCharlotteD, Michelle and Adam who actually make the most difference. The legalization of gay marriage really will not effect them in any way (other than having to go to many more weddings) but equality is important enough to them to take part in events like this. We need more like them. I have the most unbelievable respect for that.

The best thing to come out of the day is the realisation that we can do much more. Arrjaydub, TheFlack, ShaunHeron and I have skills that could really benefit the next event. And instead of being bystanders we’re determined to get involved. Between us we have the most phenomenal PR/Publicity/Corp Comms/Marketing resume so lets put it to use. But more about that another time…

As TheFlack just texted me… “Events like today really make a difference but there’s SO much more that can be done”.

And we’re gonna do it!

 *** Just to clarify my opening line, I don't really believe most gays don't care. What I do think is that not many people knew about the Rally. Subsequently us boys are gonna offer up our skills-set for the next one. We could get a crowd at a colonoscopy if we wanted to.

What does one wear to a protest???

Today is a very important day! There are Gay Marriage rallies right across the country and I'll be marching in Sydney. I won’t bang on about how important it is as hopefully anyone who’s been to this page before understands exactly how I feel. 

Wardrobe Crisis!

But I can’t help myself, one last political jab before I get to the fun stuff…

I am APPALLED that my Government believes that my relationships are not as important or as worthy as straight people. Gay love is no different! Surely in 2011 we can expect equality for all! Blood boiling, step away from the politics…

Like any important day, wardrobe selection is crucial. But what the hell do you wear to a protest??? I’m out of my depth here. If it was a Sunday BBQ, after-work cocktails or Inner West binge-drinking I would have a multitude of outfits to choose from. But a protest, what the hell would the dress code be for that?

Should I dress Revolutionary? Like as in the French Revolution. I just know I’d look gorgeous in a cropped military jacket, perhaps with tails, and white jodphurs. Only problem is I’ve left it to late to get to my tailors.

Another great protest that springs to mind is the dramatic anti-Vietnam War rallies in the 70’s that ‘defined’ their generation. While my hair is growing nicely it ain’t that long! And my wardrobe is bereft of anything suede or paisley. I’ve never looked good in tassles. If I turned up at the Rally inspired by these protesters everyone would think I’d come in fancy-dress.

A dear friend suggested I turn to Gandhi for inspiration as he certainly lead a movement of great social change. And he wore nothing but a sheet while doing it. While I think I look grand in white I’m not sure I can pull off the linen-look for the entire length of Oxford St. 

Another suggestion was Rosa Parkes. Rosa changed the world by riding the bus to school and effectively ending the segregation of blacks in the US. She is iconic for millions. She also wore a very neat, conservative dress with a fitted cardigan. While it worked for her, today is not going to be the very first time I do drag.

Gays all over the world have trodden this path before. Most recently California and New York have gone crazy for Gay Marriage. They have been protesting their asses off (with great success I might add)! But what did they wear? Well it appears it was all rather uninspiring. Preppy and conservative, lots of Abercrombie & Fitch and Banana Republic as far as I can tell from my search. Australians have a little more pizzazz than that let me assure you.

Not having much luck here determining my wardrobe! Lets turn our attention closer to home. My first memory of great protests were the Franklin Dam protests in Tasmania. Pulling up some shots from this time I know this ain’t gonna work for me either. I used to wear a lot of cargo but not for many years. And as for a parka, yeh, Mrs Woog would kill me. I wouldn’t even know where to buy a comfy sleeping bag to accessorise with.

So it appears I am back where I started. With my own wardrobe. Thank god I have a little protest T just aching for an outing. This will be my protest-attire of choice for sure! I bought it online late one night and I love it dearly. And it goes without saying that I love its message.

Please join with us today as we protest / march / rally / chant our way from Town Hall to Taylor Square. Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra have similar events this weekend.

Please find all the details here.

You know it’s important. Please do what you can. If not in the flesh than on Twitter, Facebook, any medium you can get your hands on.

Marriage is so Gay!

Thou shall not bloggeth drunk!

I’m breaking one of my sacred St. Murphy rules tonight and that is…

Thou shall not bloggeth drunk!

Granted, I am only what ladies would call ‘tippsy’ but nonetheless this is requiring far greater concentration than it normally should, would or could.

I am resisting the temptation to pour myself a vodka and diet coke; instead I am having a strong herbal tea to calm my frayed nerves and am focused on getting this tale down while it is fresh in my mind.

It started with cocktails with the ladies, and I use that term loosely. All my senses feel like they have been abused from every angle after spending a few hours with JoThornely and MichelleLLeslie. Mental note to self; women are very different and talk about women-stuff. Avoid At All Cost!

I think I learnt more about the female species tonight in a two-hour window than I’d learnt in the rest of my life. The terminology, the subject matter, the mind-blowing directness; all of it sensational. Now boys, my ladies may be extremely extremely hot, but for your own safety and welfare do not mess with these two. At least four times I found myself with my head in my hands laughing hysterically. I fear it is a lethal combination to be both attractive and smart. Thank god I have only one of these assets to deal with.

I only wish I could retell their stories, but I fear for the faint-hearted! On the boring side we drank martini’s and champagne and ate gorgeous Japanese.

Then something weird happened. JoThornely and I found ourselves in the middle of a political debate. There are these community events called Pub Politics where they put high-profiled politicians in a pub with a moderator and take questions from the drunken clientele.

We stumbled into The Clock toward the end of their session but we immediately got drawn into the drama unfolding before us. It was Joe Hockey, Graham Richardson and my new political-lover Kate Ellis going into battle, Joe Hildebrand was moderator. As you know I love an opinion and no one was short of one here.

I make no secret of being a Labor voter, but of all the Liberal politicians I consider Hockey one of the more acceptable of an otherwise very bad bunch. I’ve changed my mind. He is as rotten as the rest of them. During a debate on gay marriage he had the nerve and the gall to say that his gay 'staff' argued with him that they wanted to be different and not marry! Give me their names and number Joe, I’m gonna get to the bottom of this! I don’t believe any gay man does not want equality. What they were probably saying Joe is that if they actually had a choice – which we don’t – that they would choose not to marry. Just as many straight people do. But at least straight people have a choice!

Hockey I think you are a fool for making this flippant comment a part of the debate. It’s not about wanting to be different, we will always be different, that comes from being a MINORITY! It’s about wanting EQUALITY!!! Just like any other member of society would expect. I shall not waste any more oxygen on you Joe Hockey.

For the briefest of moments though I felt very intellectual and politically active, and I loved it! Granted, I could not stop tweeting the entire time, but it was happening all around me so how could I not.

Now a brief spiel about my new political-lover Kate Ellis. Why is it that all of the politicians that I like, enjoy, agree with and want to vote for are women? Clover, Kate, Tanya, Kristina, Sarah, Julia, even Julie. Women make more sense. They are level-headed. They encourage a sense of trust that male politicians simply don’t. Welcome to my fold Kate, pleasure to have you here.

Of course the night ended with JoThornely and I meeting some new Twitter friends that we’d never met before. Came about cause they saw our tweets at the event. Again I say, Twitter is the greatest democracy ever invented. Twitter should decide elections and policy. Twitter is everything.

All this and still home by 10.30. And if I was really drunk I guess I would have used far more colourful language to describe Joe Hockey and his attitude to gay marriage.

See you all at the Rally on Saturday!