Magda Szubanski Reveals She's Gay and Supports Same-Sex Marriage on The Project

As a gay man, I am confused as to why Magda Szubanski has felt the need to go on national television and broadcast her sexuality, especially when, by her own admissions, “most people knew anyway.” Magda is a successful, funny, charismatic and community-minded individual that is a formidable character cemented in the Australian media landscape. I believe the need to broadcast her sexuality has now dimmed the spotlight of her talent and very nature by the obligation to publicly announce and therefore seek acceptance for a trait that has never been questioned. As a gay man, I am confused as to the decision to acknowledge a deeply private part of one’s life in a public forum, especially when it is not and has not been in question. I personally have never felt the need to yell my queer status from the rooftop but I have also never hidden it. By not making a fuss over my sexuality, I have in turn given no other person the reason to not accept me completely as I am for it is in the public acknowledgement and seeking of approval that sexuality becomes and issue to debate instead of a characteristic of the whole. I truly believe that Magda would have served the “cause” (if that is what people are intent on calling it) by simply supporting it with her star power and highlighting the hypocrisy of inequality. Isn’t it time that people, in general and regardless of standing or creed, are acknowledged and accepted in society by how we act in society and not because of our sexuality. I think the point of inequality that was trying to be made although highlighted to a degree, has now been over-shadowed by the singular and Magda’s revealing of sexuality which I believe was never a point of contention has now become the main event, Do people really care anymore if people are gay? Aside from the religious communities that will forever hide in the print of the bible with God as an excuse for their inability to think and act of their own accord. As a country and a world there are so many support groups out there now for young gay men and women, that any individual has the opportunity to experience support and inclusion at anytime and all they need to do is ask. In ending I know I will ruffle some feathers and I know that there will be strong opinions for and against my views, however I believe as a gay man living in Australia that the truth is when I learnt to let go of the need to have others think of me in a certain way and I simply cared more about how I acted as a human being my life was transformed. Gay marriage is a debate of equality but in the reality of the world nothing is rarely equal and I personally choose to live outside the boundaries others attempt to dictate. If I chose to marry a man, I would not allow the government’s prejudice to stop me, I would simply look to a new way of fulfilling my ambition. There is always a way to achieve and experience what we want and when the world stops needing to fight to be acknowledged and instead acknowledges themselves we will move forward. I don't really care either way about marriage nor do I really care what people say about me as they are not the ones living my life. I care about me and I live my life with an ode to simply be a person I can be proud of every night I go to bed. I live each day to the fullest of my ability and that is where my eternal happiness lies.

@troyt - I suppose it is because by coming out to the broader public she puts an identifiable and publicly loved face to the topic (though I think she needs to ease up on the botox - I may be wrong, maybe she isn't using it). People tend to react to topics with an 'us and them' type of attitude. If they ain't 'us', if it doesn't affect 'us' then why bother caring about it? It's like the 'first they came for' poem. As Magda put it, she feels like acceptance of gays, bis, etc is a velvet oppression, and that young gays are dying because it isn't truly being accepted as a lifestyle of equal value as the straight lifestyle as marriage isn't allowed. As for you being comfortable with getting married to whom you like regardless of what the government says, well, good on you, but just think of it from this perspective - it wasn't that long ago (in living memory) that engaging in homosexual sex could land you in gaol.

@ Troyt Your a little bit narcissistic, Troyt. And a little bit apathetic. As for "Isn’t it time that people, in general and regardless of standing or creed, are acknowledged and accepted in society by how we act in society and not because of our sexuality." Yes, it is time, but that doesn't change the fact that homosexuals being unable to marry under Australian law is an issue of discrcimination and inequality.

The media make famous people's sexuality a topic of discussion. I understand what you're getting at, but Magda used this as a platform to express some deeply personal feelings and reactions, which I believe might have made some people think and ultimately it is relevant to allowing equal marriage. . As for your ease in 'coming out' it's very very different when you're well-known and people have said that it helps when respected famous people do it. Everyone's situation is different, whether a celebrity or not. It's a nice idea that homosexuality is so widely accepted, but it's just not true. I'd have thought as a gay man you'd be more empathetic with young people who do have a struggle coming to terms with their sexuality, without even considering the different reactions of friends and families. The bigger the number of celebrities who are known to be gay the better, surely.