iOTA

iOTA was "discovered" playing his guitar at the Bellingen markets in 1998. Signed by an independent record label, he recorded his first album “The Hipbone Connection” which received critical acclaim and was much loved by Sydney radio and it’s listeners. As time went by iOTA wwnt on to release "Little Carlos", "Big Grandfather", "La Caravana" and "Beauty Queen of the Sea" - were darker and more experimental than his first release. Although he realised that his need to continue evolving as an artist and to keep searching through darker themes was alienating him from his earlier fans, he stayed true to his artistic instincts. Nonetheless, air play lessened, crowds dwindled and by 2005, frustrated and no longer with a record company, iOTA was back to square one.

In 2006, iOTA was offered his first acting job starring in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He took a gamble and accepted the job going on to win a Sydney Critics Award, a Green Room Award and a Helpmann Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Next he played the fallen angel in Graeme Murphy’s Berlin with the Sydney Dance Company. In 2008, he landed the role of Dr Frank n Furter in the Rocky Horror Show and a nomination for Best Actor. Since then he has played the Coyote in References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot. Recently, in late 2009 iOTA was commissioned by the Sydney Festival to write the show "Smoke and Mirrors" with friend and director Craig Ilott. "Smoke and Mirrors" enjoyed a sell out season at the Sydney Festival and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and is set to travel to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with The Famous Speigel Tent in 2010.

iOTA continues to make music with a band of fourteen friends called Jungle Hammer. The two albums released with iOTA on vocals are Strange Fascination (2008) and Romeo Tree (2010).

Why have you chosen to represent this same-sex law reform campaign?

I want to do what I can, whenever I can to support the gay community... if I can take a little time out of my day to have a photo taken and stand in support, then I will.

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

I guess the most prominent experience was a few years ago at the Gaslight Hotel [a popular Sydney bar] one night when my two friends were having a friendly pash and one of the bar maids took their beers off them and told them "there's a place for them to go and do things like that"... I couldn't believe it. I argued with her until she told me she'd call the police and she snatched my beer as well... I told her to call them and then I stood on a bar stool with my fist in the air screaming, "homophobia is alive and well at the Gaslight Hotel"... the police never came and i was eventually talked down by a friend and we left. I should've reported it but at the time didn't even realise that I could.

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

Some of the reforms may never affect me directly but the mere fact of their existence and that they've actually changed at all makes them a positive step forward.

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

To celebrate and educate

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

Because change is always a huge step forward

What do you like about your T-Shirt design?

I like that my t-shirt has strong woman on the front and also that it's yellow. That's a real departure for me, I've never owned a yellow t-shirt.