Felix Herbener

CATALOGUE OF HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING I EXPERIENCED IN GLADSTONE 4680 People using a nasal camp voice around me for no apparent reason other than to alert others that a gay man (me) was in their presence. Ocurrances: Walking on the street × 1, In a car being driven ×1, In a relationship × 1 (multiple occasions). Total 3 occurances. People using the word gay in my presence for no apparent reason other than to slight myself. Occurances: Walking on the street ×1, In a shop ×1. Total 2 occurances. People playing gay anthems for no apparent reason other than to get to me (as if I would enjoy that). Occurances: my neighbours ×1 (multiple occasions). Total 7 occurances. People referring to gay interest film in my presence for no apparent reason other than to alert others to the fact a person was in their presence (me). Occurances: At a party ×1. Total 1 occurance. People claiming no knowledge of Nimbin Mardigrass when I mentioned it and thinking I was talking and Sydney Gay and Le...

MYSTERY YOUNG MAN I am still struggling with thoughts about a young person I assisted in Gladstone. A young man who told me he was 14 and homeless. He  had made the aquiantance of a 42 year old gay man calling him his uncle. This man was not his uncle and I was disturbed by his association with a minor. I decided, based on what the young person told me, to assist him by taking him to child protection. I did this and he was interviewed privately before being asked to remain in the building. I was told nothing. A couple of weeks later I saw the young person again and he told me he was living in a youth shelter. He would come to my house sometimes during the day. Months passed and I started speaking out about the sexual inappropriateness of the man he called his uncle. I posted my opinion on Facebook. In Gladstone this man was watching my public Facebook posts and saw it. The young man took offence to it and punched me in the mouth outside Centrelink. I reported the ...

FOR THE ABUSED M invited me next door to D's house to play cards with D's son who was 12 or 13 and two other boys under the age of 12. D's son was big for his age, whereas the other two boys were smaller than average and skinny. The smallest was only just able to play cards sensibly and was given assistance by D's son. The three boys and M sat at D's kitchen table while D stood in the kitchen. M's usually loud voice became even louder as he played cards. D's son's voice was raised also. I felt uncomfortable and moved away to leave, but sensing this D said "stay". I stayed and D said "and that's how you play with boys". Then M said in a camp voice "Oh my god Betty, look at her butt, it's so big and ROUND" and he kept repeating it loudly. I felt this was inappropriate. Then M started touching the boy next to him in a show of affection, like a cuddle. The boy, effeminate looking, didn't seem upset. But ...

COVID-19   OUTBREAK And just like that HIV is airborne. Thanks to a mutated coronavirus HIV is no longer "the gay disease". This pandemic removes the stigma of HIV from gay men, whereas marriage equality did not. It is a new paradigm. Just as COVID-19 is not a "Chinese virus", HIV is no longer a "gay disease".