Mr Gay Pride Australia 2018 First Runner-up Nicholas Steepe has featured in a national television documentary about being gay in a country town and the response to the marriage equality decision last year.
The ABC TV series Seed spent time with key LGBTI community members in the NSW town of Dubbo to create the short documentary Pride Out West.
Nicholas Steepe spoke about his life growing up gay in the small country town, his challenges with depression and how it was important that locals knew there was an LGBTI community in Dubbo.
“Growing up in Dubbo has been positive, but there have been some negative experiences,” explained Steepe during the documentary.
“So many times I did try and hide who I was, I wish I had seen someone like me at school and I kind of wanna be that person for someone else, so they can become who they are even living in Dubbo.
“There’s a massive negative perception of Dubbo and of regional towns, that we are kind of a little bit homophobic or a bit backward, that’s where the idea formed to start the pride march because there were people in the community [that didn’t know of the gay community] and we’re like ‘wait how did you not know we are here, we think we are pretty visible’ but obviously we weren’t visible enough”.
In the documatary we also meet Bizzi Mason and Kris Stevens and hear of their struggle of being women in love in a small country town and how they were so proud of Nic’s efforts to get the Pride March started in the town.
“Initially the march was a concept that Nic came up with, full credit to him because he has been the driving force behind uniting our community and having the vision to make these things happen,” said Kris Stevens.
“He has brought us all together, shared his vision, got us onboard, and he has a youthful energy that makes these sorts of things happen quickly.”
Footage of the 2017 Dubbo pride march is shown, which was held three days following the same-sex marriage postal survey announcement in November.
Cameras actually captured the moment when the result was announced on television when Steepe is surrounded by Stevens and other friends.
Dubbo falls in the Federal seat of Parkes it is one of the largest regional seats in Australia and they voted 53% Yes.
“It hurts to not be seen as equal,” Nic summed up the result just before he led the Pride March.
“And now we are and I’m glad to be here for that and to support the next generation that will be equal under the law.”
Last Updated on Apr 26, 2018
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