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The League of Gentlefellows says: You Are Not the Only Gay in the Village! Julian Punch was there at the founding of this social network for Tassie gay men.
My pharmacist is a very friendly fellow. Every time I opened my prescription I was greeted by a chocolate in the bag. From chocolates, we progressed to the 'out’ question, then, 'Would you like to have a coffee at lunchtime?'.
As we sat on the footpath outside a café off Criterion Street in Hobart, my new friend remarked casually that 'all these friends of Dorothy’ (he is far more gentrified than I am) were moving into the Huon.
I asked who all these people were and how many of them were on the move. There was a paper cloth on the table and he started writing their names and contact details on this with gay abandon, showing off his memory for names and details. As I paid the bill, I had to make a hurried excuse as to why I had the tablecloth under my arm.
A month later, after many phone calls and emails, thirty-five excited gay men turned up on my front lawn in Longley. They came earlier than expected, looking to enjoy an afternoon tea that we and our respective partners were still putting together.
They came from all walks of life and age groupings, some single some partnered and some not sure. There were lawyers, a doctor, several public servants, one head of a Department, two entrepreneur couples running a B&B and an eco-tourism lodge, many pink immigrants from NSW, Queensland and Victoria – all adjusting to the quieter lifestyle, still looking for the ‘non-existent’ night clubs and saunas.
Since we were 20 minutes south of Hobart, some of the ‘original’ Tasmanian men (some ‘clansmen ‘ from the original’ founding dynasties) had not realised there were any other ‘queers’ around the place and were in a state of shock.
That gathering was the first League of Gentlemen meeting, an organisation now grown to a large, informal grouping of Tasmanian gay men and their friends. We meet in a social setting on a regular basis in a non threatening and safe environment to celebrate our lives and enjoy one another’s company. From that simple list on a tablecloth, there are now nearly 800 members across the state, with chapters in the four regions as well as other townships. There are also an increasing number of expatriate Tasmanian members who meet in other states still looking for a simpler lifestyle based on networking in the large ‘smoke’.
LoG members meet at one another's houses, or one of the local restaurants or local parks and barbecue areas, to share a meal together and enjoy one another's company in the unique setting of the many small community settings of the regions. Besides one another's company about once every seven weeks, we also enjoy discovering the food, wine, history, craft, and beauty of the local areas. There are also significant gay business ventures in all the areas that provide a meeting venue and support.
The League members pay no fees, charges or subscriptions and the group has no rules other than respect for one another. We have no political, welfare or other affiliation agenda and no expectation other than to enjoy the social occasion. Members from all chapters who are registered on the State Contact Data Base are invited to all the events run in the various chapters. LoG also has a strong associate membership base of family, friends, and GLBTI people who share in a variety of open functions; for example, film nights, general celebrations and art exhibitions.
When meeting in this context the League ‘out of respect’ it is known as the League of Gentle Fellows. The LoG importantly supports and partners other GLBTI organisations in general community events.
LoG members enjoy raising finances by raffles, auctions, etc for the Coming Out Proud Program (COPP) in the region. The aim of the Coming Out Proud Program (COPP) is to provide strategies that will enable GLBTI people in the region to “come out with pride” and live in their community with dignity as fully respected and participating members.
LoG members have observed that, in the past, many young and some older GLBTI people have had to leave the region because of local prejudice – some have even suicided or attempted to do so. They have also observed that prejudice still exists against GLBTI people in the region. The League offers its support to the development and implementation of COPP to ameliorate this situation locally.
Invitations to LoG events are either posted or sent out via email (using bcc). One officer maintains the contact list for invitations across the state as a discrete document (not for distribution) with respect for the special privacy needs of its members.
There are normally between 30 to 60 gay men at our functions (easy to get lost in the group if you want to) and sometimes we invite our friends and family members to join us at a special function. The League holds an annual dinner where the LGBTI gather together as a community of family and friends to celebrate our diversity and acknowledge the courage of those who work to achieve fairness and equity. The Rainbow Awards are principally a celebration of our diversity and the richness that we contribute to the life of our communities.
While the LoG specializes in men’s and women’s space celebrations it also shares in and supports other gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex functions run by associate organizations.
So, from the simple gift of chocolates in the bottom of prescription bags, not only did I find a new friend, but a valuable social organisation has emerged.
This is the way we do things in Tasmania: networking and establishing social groupings that dispel some of the loneliness and isolation that we can all experience, especially in the rural and isolated areas.
The League started in 2003 in the Huon area, but there are now
chapters or members in other areas of the state including:
• Kingston/Huon/Channel and Bruny Island
• Greater Hobart area including the Eastern Shore and Glenorchy
• Greater Launceston area
• West Coast/North West Coast
• New Norfolk/Collinsville
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