Damien Stevens & Chris Todd

Damien & his partner Chris live in Shepparton (Victoria, Australia). Having grown up in Melbourne, Damien 'Equality' Stevens has now lived & worked in Greater Shepparton for the past 8 years. Representing many of rural North-East Victoria's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer & allies (GLBTIQA) interests, Damien enjoys an active role in his community.

As the "Diversity Project Officer" at UnitingCare - Cutting Edge, Damien supports 14 – 25yr old same sex attracted & gender questioning young people (SSAGQYP) and provides a vital link between many community services in the area around SSAGQYP health & wellbeing issues.

Co-facilitating a rural chapter of PFLAG Victoria in sunny Shepparton, and presiding over Greater Shepparton's social group, Goulburn Valley (GV) Pride Inc., Damien strives to 'make a difference' in the lives of all people he comes in contact with.

Damien also represents Victoria's interests on the executive committee of Uniting Network Australia, the national network for LGBT people, their families, friends and supporters within the Uniting Church in Australia. Damien & Chris were both baptised into the Uniting Church at birth.

Damien is also a full-time retail Training Officer with Fishers Stores Consolidated Pty Ltd (looking after trainees across nine IGA supermarkets).

Chris is a full-time support worker for people with disabilities, helping to manage one of the respite houses he works in, and is writing his first tongue-in-cheek comedy about his life, “Head’s Down, I’m Up!” Chris grew up in the small rural town of Tongala (Victoria, Australia) with only 1,000 people. He is junior vice president of GV Pride. Current CFA member & former young Australian Citizen of the Year (2005), Chris is also committed to making a difference in the world.

In their spare(!) time, Damien and Chris attend festivals, rallies & support worthy causes & charities, both within and outside of the GLBTIQA community (as well as the occasional evening or weekend at home & with family). The changes these law reforms bring about will support Damien & Chris’ hopes and dreams (& move them a few steps further forward) to one day have a family, & legally getting married.

What sorts of same-sex discrimination have you / has anyone you know experienced?

Living in regional Australia, many of the friends we have (alongside the SSAGQYP Damien works with) have felt very isolated at one point, and regularly experienced homophobic abuse of some kind. Bullying at school, having property damaged, “getting kicked out of my church”, being bashed in the street, “having lemons thrown on the roof of my house”, being thrown out of home are all very real examples, often leading to thoughts of self-harm, suicide, drug & alcohol abuse or homelessness.

Labelled “Mr Gay Shepparton”, Damien doesn’t have many problems or get picked on much, ‘cos he’s confident and knows how to handle himself (and any curly questions or insults that might be thrown his way), as does Chris – it’s the vulnerable people in the community who suffer the most that Damien & Chris are concerned about. “There’s still times where we carefully choose our words, just in case the audience might discriminate!”

How do you think these reforms will make a difference to your life, or to the lives of those close to you?

These law reforms are significant for those in a committed relationship. But they’re also helpful to the next generation, and young people RIGHT NOW who still get told “it’s NOT okay to be gay!” Having role models, both singles and couples, living & thriving in the community, being seen holding hands as they walk down the street or mall, taking rainbow families to play in the park, getting recognition at Centrelink, all give visibility and a sense of pride and ‘safety in numbers’ to those entertaining the idea of “coming out” of the closet. Feeling like we have the government “on our side” gives a greater sense of belonging and confidence that Australia provides freedom and opportunity for ALL. It also reduces our families’ fears of us being bashed or killed because we’re “different”.

Why do you think people should wear these 85 law reforms with pride?

“You can’t stop progress!” But we still need amendments to the Human Rights Act and the Marriage Act. “We’re equal” now, they tell us … but it appears “some are more equal than others”! Having these law reforms and KNOWING these law reforms have occurred are two very different things. It’s amazing how many of our friends think same-sex marriage is already legal! These t-shirts, this website & the 85 law reforms create an opportunity for discussion around the water-cooler at work, and to educate our friends & family across the dinner table. Who can YOU think of that needs to see this website? Send them an email now!

Why do you think this is a huge step forward for Australia?

We don't think it is huge. We think it is positive and helpful, though. Huge will be when we have marriage equality, and when I’m out of a job [i.e. when support for SSAGQYP is about the very same ‘standard’ issues as their peers (e.g. finding a job, choosing a career, depression or troubles at home), NOT so much about homophobic bullying and suicide intervention,] says Damien. Chris maintains his anger that we’re not all the same, “it’s just something that should be the norm”.

What do you like about your T-Shirt design?

Damien & Chris were drawn to t-shirt number 44 because of the love and commitment portrayed between the couple, glorified and praised as a holy unit in which it represents a powerful statement that love does not have to be gender-specific. The colourful and visually loud stain glass window is related immediately to religion, especially to the Christian churches that are amongst the most common places where the relationships are made official. The wedding ring is an additional symbol of complete liberation and equality of same-sex relationships. We’ll “Wear it with Pride now, and when the Marriage Act is made equal! Chris also likes it because green is his favourite colour!

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Please buy a t-shirt and “Wear it with pride” – down the street, in Church, at work, around your home – TODAY!