SMH:Thereluctantactiviststandsupforhimself

ThereluctantactiviststandsupforhimselfGilesHardieApr13,2013JoshThomashasbecomeanaccidentaliconforthegaycommunity.JoshThomasisbackdoingstand-up.Itsarelaxingchangeforthecomedian,ashehasfinallysteppedoffthepromotionalcircuitforPleaseLikeMe,hisfirstforayintowritingandactingfortelevision,andashowthathashelpedhimbecomeanaccidentaliconforthegaycommunity.OnMondayhewillappearintheSydneyComedyFestivalgalaafteramonth-longrunattheMelbourneInternationalComedyFestival.quot;IfIdothewholemonth[ofcomedy]thennoonecantakemetoadifferentcity,quot;hesayswithrelief.quot;IgetawholemonthathomeandIcanjusthangoutwithmydogandmychickens.quot;Butitwasntquiteaperfectescape.OnAprilFoolsDayhewasflowntoSydneytoappearontheABCsQAonapanelthatotherwisesoundsliketheperfectset-upforajoke:anarchbishop,animam,aBuddhistnunandaJewishatheist.Hesoonfoundhimselfthepresumedspokesmanforhomosexualityandatheismontopicsrangingfromgaymarriagetocreationism.quot;Itwassuchadivisiveshow,whereyouvegotreligiousleadersthatdedicatetheirlifetotheconversationwehad,buttomeitsahobby,quot;Thomassaid.Hewasalsothedefaulttargetforthereligiousleaderscommentsonhomosexuality.quot;Theywereoffensive,quot;hesaid.quot;Like:gaysaresinners.Animamcomparedgaystoalcoholics.[Thearchbishopsaid]IwasawarpinGodsplan.quot;Itwasjustabamboozlinghourreally,becauseImanatheist.Somyresponsetoeverythingeverybodysaysisohthatsnonsense,thathasnobasisinreality.quot;Thomashadagreedtoappearontheshowasanartist,hopingtoprovideanquot;everymanquot;opinion,butfoundhimselfberatedonsocialmediafornotgoingontheattack.quot;Alotofatheistswerelike,Yourepresentedusbadly.AndIwaslike,Ohno,Idontrepresentatheists.IdidntrepresentyouinthewayIdidntrepresentpeoplewhodontdoballet.Werenotateam.quot;ItsnottheonlycommunitynowembracingThomas.Thoughnotquitebiographical,PleaseLikeMe,theshowhewroteandstarredinonABC2,featuredacentralcharacter,Josh,whocameoutatthestartofthefirstepisode.quot;Sincethatshowhappened,gayshavesortofrealisedthatImgay,quot;Thomassaid.quot;IdontgetinvitedtodothingsduringMardiGrasortotalkatrallies.TheyalwaysgetRubyRose.TheydontrealiseImahomo.Whichisgood.Ioftenthinkwithgayness,itsenoughIhavetodealwithhomophobia-doIreallyhavetospendmyweekendsgoingonaboutit?quot;Hispositionispossiblybestexpressedthroughhisapproachtothedevelopmentoftheshow.quot;WehadthesemeetingswiththeABCwheretheydtalkabouthowweredealingwithhomosexuality.Iwaslike,Thatsjustmylife.Ihaventthoughtabouthowmylifeplaysoutasapoliticalstatement.quot;Theshowhadnogaythemestobeginwith,foroneverysimplereason.quot;Well,westartedwritingitwhenIwasstraight,quot;Thomassaid.OnceThomascameout,sodidhischaracterJosh,anditwastheABCthatpushedforthescripttodealwiththeissue.quot;Itbecameoneoftheover-archingthemes,whichIdidntreallywant,tobehonest…Ihadsuchadullcomingoutexperience.Ididntknowhowinterestingitwastostraightpeople.quot;Whiletheshowdidntsetratingsrecords,ranking215thinitsfirstweek,itwascriticallywellreceived.Thomaswashappywiththenumbers.quot;IttripledtheABC2timeslot,quot;hesaid.quot;Itsreallypopularoverseas.MyTumblrsandmyTwitternowhasalotofSpanish.quot;Havingpitchedasecondseries,ThomasisrelyingonDVDsalesquot;sowecangivetheABCsomemoneyback-andthenhopefullytheywillmakeitagain.quot;Readmore:http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/comedy/the-reluctant-activist-stands-up-for-himself-20130420-2i6u1.htmlixzz2RBqGCmIH