ARIA-nominated singer-songwriter Holly Throsby has penned an op-ed in support of same-sex marriage, published yesterday on the Sydney Morning Herald‘s Comment section, in which the artist reveals that she wrote her song Now I Love Someone, a popular wedding song, about a woman.
“Several strangers have written to me over the years to say they walked down the aisle to that song. Isn’t that something? I was touched. I’m not sure if any of them knew I’d written it about a woman,” writes Throsby in the editorial, titled ‘Sing out loud: marriage equality is in tune with the times.’
“I would like to be able to get married, too. I’d like to be able to do it in Australia. But unfortunately, Australian law says my partner and I aren’t allowed,” the 34-year-old artist continues, before scrutinising some of the arguments against gay marriage and illustrating their inherent hypocrisy.
Throsby goes on to describe her own experiences with homophobia, in particular reading former Katter Party Senate candidate Bernard Gaynor declaring that he wouldn’t allow a homosexual to teach his children, after Throsby successfully released an album of educational children’s songs.
“Inspired by my goddaughter and her little brother, I wrote and released a children’s album a few years ago. It’s been the most adorable experience of my career,” explains Throsby, later adding, “Around the time I was touring it, former Katter party Senate candidate Bernard Gaynor said he wouldn’t let a gay person teach his children. There was uproar, as well as murmurs of agreement.”
“You get a thick skin with so much homophobic content in the world,” she continues, “but reading that, I cried on the newspaper. I thought of my friends who are wonderful teachers and happen to be gay or transgender. I thought of the LGBTQI kids in classrooms.”
Throsby goes on to say that her piece was inspired by Andrew Webster, Chief Sports Writer for The Sydney Morning Herald, who recently wrote his own editorial that focused on homophobia in Australian sport and the influence of former Justice of the High Court of Australia, Michael Kirby.
“The message we get from the rest of the world – whether it be from our [PM], or the pervasive heterosexism that dominates all areas of human representation – can make it impossible for LGBTQI people, or anyone who isn’t 100 per cent heterosexual, to accept themselves,” writes Throsby.
Throsby finishes by explaining that her coming out was done in the hope that her perspective “helps just one person,” and positing that if both straight and gay couples can be moved by her song, “then aren’t our experiences the same? …And, if so, then why can’t I get married too?”
(Via Sydney Morning Herald)
