The Author writes;

“Disclaimer: I began writing this before news of Wilson Gavin's tragic death was made public. As the story was still developing when I submitted this article for publication, I have not commented on it and wish to extend my deepest condolences to Wilson Gavin’s family and friends. Instead this article is about the event which sparked the outrage and the considerations around the ensuing controversy.”

I think this reflection from Fr Rod of the Anglican Parish of Gosford is timely.

Quote

Wilson Gavin’s untimely death is a tragedy beyond description.

Our hearts go out to his family and friends in their distress at this time of devastation.

As always in such circumstance we can never fully know what was in Wilson’s mind as the quality of consciousness that causes us to cling to live, especially in times of distress, began to slip from his grip. However, we do know that this process is rarely the result of one incident, but rather the culmination of months or even years of tearing away at the human psyche.

It is true that Wilson and his friends had been the subject of harsh, if not undeserved criticism, following their invasion of a library in Brisbane in order to protest against an event where two drag queens were reading children’s books. I can attest from my own experience that relentless criticism on social media can deeply wound the soul, even directing one’s thinking in self-destructive directions.

Sadly, Wilson belonged to a demographic where suicide is all too common. He was gay. The incidence of self-harm among the LGBTIQA community is significantly higher than in the wider society. This is due, in no small part, to the diminishing of one’s soul caused by bullying, exclusion, otherising and a thousand and one other things that are inflicted upon members of society who don’t quite fit the mould that the domination system has created.

Cont...

Cont...

We can only imagine how hard Wilson had tried to fit into that mould, even to the extent of arguing against his own human rights by opposing Marriage Equality. What subtle, and not-so-subtle messaging had he needed to process about his very essence. How many jokes made at his own expense had he felt the need to laugh at, while dying inside just a little more each time. One can assume that among the young conservatives of Brisbane there are also a good number of young conservative Christians. I wonder how many times he had been told that he was “a sinner’ or that he should “pray away the gay”.

Yesterday I asked the question “Do we really want to live in a world run by these people? That would be a cruel world, without compassion, love or hope. That would be a world dominated by power, abuse and manipulation. May we choose love, grace and inclusion.” Sadly, it turns out Wilson didn’t want to live in that world either.

As I view the footage from the library and see Wilson gazing into the eyes of the drag queen, I can’t help wondering what he is really seeing. Was it a mirror into which he is staring? We so often vilify what we have come to most despise within ourselves. Could it have been years of splintered existence brought about by society’s denial of his soul essence, which in part is our sexuality, that led to him losing the fervent but tenuous grip we all have on life?

We will never know for sure. But what I do know is that the pathway to the tragedy that has now changed the lives of Wilson’s family forever did not begin yesterday. It began years ago with a diminishing word uttered by one broken human soul to another, and then more of the same, again and again and again.

Rest in peace Wilson Gavin.

We as a society seek your forgiveness.

Fr Rod

Lifeline 131 114
Beyond blue 1300 22 4636

End quote

Alan B.

"this controveresy (sic) was not caused by the cross dressers but the control freak, ignorange (sic) personified, who sort to impose their views on the rest of us"

This is a somewhat intolerant and simplistic statement, considering the complexity of this situation.

As for "For a proven fact there are gay genes"

Sorry: 'No ‘gay gene’: Massive study homes in on genetic basis of human sexuality'

http://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02585-6

Steele,

He was gay. And he was bullied.

Bullying works in the most dreadful ways.

There's a lesson for all of us on OLO.

Joe

Would people still be bullied for being gay if they didn't flaunt their sexual orientation ?

From the children's perspective, they were entertained by two people wearing strange/funny clothing. What they are likely to remember is the contents of the stories rather than their presenters.

Children would not understand the meaning of "drag queens" anyway unless the significant adults in their lives impress it on them and teach them about gender/sex with emphasis on it being "important".

Ideally, children should not even learn about gender and sexuality, other than in the context of high-school biology. Had adults, regardless of their personal orientation, whatever that may be, not been tempted to impress on children their own sense of assigning importance to gender and sexuality, then this malaise would stop being passed down through the generations.

Sadly, the demonstration suggested to the children that something important is occurring with regards to the identity of their entertainers, thus unnecessarily arousing their curiosity as for what that might be.