‘We don’t leave the house on Invasion Day’: a gay Aboriginal man on LGBTI silence
Image: Image: Supplied.
For Indigenous people around the country, Invasion Day (January 26) is a day of mourning. Zachary Penrith-Puchalski explains what the day means to him as a gay Aboriginal man.
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A few days ago I was speaking with my sister about Invasion Day.
We mused over our decided absence from the day. It is a day we choose not to leave the house.
Not because of mourning or defiance, but out of fear that somebody may attack us or accost us in public spaces as they have done in the past.
We are Aboriginal.
I was on a train one Invasion Day when three drunken white guys decided to question me about whether I called it Australia Day or Invasion Day.
I was 21 and just trying to get to a friend’s house for a BBQ.
If I rejected their questions it felt like it might lead to danger, so I was compliant for the 25-minute train journey.
In that time they realised that I was both gay and Aboriginal. I was praised because I was “one of those good Abos” and one of those gays who “doesn’t need to make it a big show”.
Another year on Invasion Day I was told that “Aboriginal people normally get more from Centrelink than white people”.
I was asked to describe why this happens, explain how much I received from my study payment, and when they realised it was the same amount as them, answer a handful more questions.
However, I had no answers because – surprise – Indigenous people do not work as a hive-mind. I now know that these Centrelink comments are common myths.
Many of the people that have accosted me like this are those who actively fight for LGBTQIA rights and are considered LGBTQIA.
Racism has a sharper fang within ‘progressive’ sides because we are often told that they are a safe space and that we “belong”.
I am certain I would do the same thing again today; behave compliantly, despite being older and supposedly wiser now. Compliance means safety for many Indigenous LGBTQIA people.
I still comply today because I continually see LGBTQIA activists make race-based comments and jokes about Indigenous people.
And if they weren’t the one making the joke, they laughed at the joke, liked it on social media, or heard the joke and said nothing at all.
I see nobody defending Indigenous people in the LGBTQIA atmosphere. I see people too afraid to lose their friendships for doing the right thing and saying something. This is not enough.
You are responsible for the company you keep. If you choose to allow racist remarks be made by your mates without standing up, you are complicit.
I have seen white gays raze others for their homophobia, posting screenshots of their take-downs, but then radio silence when it comes to anything to do with racism within our own community.
Left activism is a strange place to be, especially when you see white gays fight so admirably about other issues. Or photoshopping something clever to post on social media. Or delivering a searing hot-take on Facebook, and fact checking with several references to bury somebody who said something negative about the gay community.
Watching this ocean of knowledge and sassiness completely dry up when it comes to intersectional issues is personally hurtful. It should hurt you too – Indigenous LGBTQIA people are a part of this community and we shouldn’t be an afterthought.
When I head out to gay venues in January, and people notice that I am black, I’m consistently asked about Australia Day versus Invasion Day.
People tell me I am pretty for an Aboriginal, and explain that they “don’t really care, it’s just another public holiday anyway”.
They want my permission to not care about the day, as though I speak on behalf of all Indigenous people. I do not.
Most people within our community generally consider themselves progressive, but on January 26 they “just want to have a good time”.
I am not the only black person who has these conversations; this is a topic echoed through every Indigenous person I know.
I care what you decide to do on your Invasion Day or Australia Day. It’s important to me because it displays how much Indigenous LGBTQIA people, like myself, are respected within our own community.
It’s hurtful to watch people celebrate Invasion Day by attending bars and clubs that are holding special events, because you’re actively showing the venue that this is acceptable and that their racism generates money.
We as a community should not accept this.
The responsibility of this day should be shouldered by all of us, as a community, as we Indigenous people are part of this community too, and our rights matter as much as yours.
Indigenous rights should absolutely be getting in the way of you having your good time, and you should be thinking about how much this day aches for us.
We are there for you because we are LGBTQIA but you should be here for us, as we are LGBTQIA too.
We cannot talk about inclusion and then ignore entire segments of our community as though they don’t exist.
We indigenous LGBTQIA people are still here, and always will be.
Hi Zachary,
I’m Australian, nearing 53, white, gay, and have always believed in respect, equality and equalism for *all*, not just for some¤ (¤aka: “equality: conditions apply”). Race, culture, age, gender and sexuality, etc., all deserve *equal* equality and respect. Last year, the term “Love = Love” popped-up quite rightfully as a clear and direct equation for the marriage equality campaign. I believe we should also champion for an equivalent term and equation: “Equality = Equality”.
Our country is sadly, constantly, embarrassingly and shamefully behind the times when we have to rely upon our ‘government’ for equal positive progression for all: no matter what party is in; and, frequently, no matter what the issue. For example: “Innovation!” smarms Turnbull. “BUT WHEN?!” scream the rest of us (thus: Turnbull …as useful as a lace parachute).
Why none of our ‘leaders’ can do what other countries’ leaders have done by giving their Indigenous peoples the respect of a treaty just screams further inequity and hypocrisy of that Australian some-time ideology: ‘The Fair Go’.
Zachary… you can certainly count me in for empathy and support of Australia’s Indigenous peoples. Best wishes.
You should know… What Henry Parkes said about the 1888 Centenary celebrations. When Parkes (the then Premier of NSW) was planning the upcoming celebrations, he was asked what – if anything – was being planned for Aboriginal people in the Centenary celebrations. Parkes retorted, ‘And remind them that we have robbed them?’ – a harsh, but truthful response. One that many modern day politicians don’t even recognise…
Thank you for sharing your story. It is beautifully written and very important. You are totally right. Your lived experience should not be dismissed or ridiculed. We as LGBTQI people should understand opression enough to offer compassion and support.
Sorry – racism exists within every community and its how one counters it, is what matters. No one I know celebrates Australia Day as “Invasion Day” but if you choose to have that attitude and stay indoors because of some perceived threat – that’s your own concern. Sure there are thugs around and there always will be, but thankfully most of them are a minority. There are many more people around who would welcome everyone joining in celebrating the best things that are Australia today.
Ill-informed comment. I was asked about Australian racism by a recent Pommy migrant and I explained that Australia has always been racist against two races – the most recent mob off the boat, and Aborigines. So when my Latvian grandparents arrived in 1947 among the first mass non-English migration, they were subjected to racism. But that died away quickly when the Italians and Greeks arrived, and they became the target instead. Then that died off when the Vietnamese and Chinese arrived in the 70’s and 80’s and they became the target instead. Then that died off shortly after Pauline Hanson was promising to reduce Asian immigration when mid-eastern Muslims became the new target instead (even Hanson doesn’t mention Asians anymore).
But Aborigines have always been discouraged from living in areas where white people live, they were treated as sub-human in our constitution until only 50 years ago, they were pummelled for generations like no other Australians and this still has effects today. And then dicks like Tony Abbott as PM who declared that Aborigines living in the only areas they’ve never been kicked out of are making a “lifestyle choice” as an excuse to cut funding support programs.
If you wanted to completely dehumanise an indigenous population, the white treatment of Aborigines between 1788 and 1980 would be a great starting point. Anything that’s happened since is mostly window dressing too, although finally health and life expectancy statistics are starting to improve.
This Murri shares your senriments. A great article bro and well on point, thank you.
good one brother