‘I refuse to stay in the dark’: The Voice finalist Sheldon Riley
Image: Sheldon Riley. Image: Supplied.
The Voice finalist Sheldon Riley has overcome bullying to become an out and proud singer. Matthew Wade caught up with him to chat about performing at this year鈥檚 Midwinta Gala.
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Singer and The Voice finalist came out as gay at a young age, but was forced to change schools 14 times after being mercilessly bullied by his classmates.
He was living on the Gold Coast at the time, with little exposure to the LGBTI community and no role models to look up to 鈥� he says he didn鈥檛 even know what a drag queen was.
鈥淣o-one got me, I didn鈥檛 fit in anywhere,鈥� he says.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e going to school and asking teachers why boys can鈥檛 wear skirts, you know you鈥檙e different.
鈥淎t one stage I didn鈥檛 want to talk to anyone. I thought, if this is what being gay is, I don鈥檛 want to be that person anymore.鈥�
Riley says his sense of pride and empowerment ultimately came from the most unlikely of places: one of his most vicious high-school tormentors, who reached out to him to both apologise and come out as gay.
鈥淭his was the worst bully I had had, and he was messaging me to let me know that he was gay,鈥� he says.
鈥淗e apologised and said he had super religious parents. It made me realise that everyone鈥檚 going through their own battles.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all people that want to fit in and be like everybody else.鈥�
Now, after competing on this year鈥檚 season of The Voice, the 19-year-old is more proud of his sexuality than ever, and will be performing at the , an annual fundraiser for Midsumma Festival in Melbourne.
He says he hopes he can be the role model he never had growing up.
鈥淎ll the performances I鈥檝e been doing, they鈥檙e not about the money,鈥� he says.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e about the little kid that looks up at me and is in complete awe.
鈥淚 want to let young LGBTI people know that it鈥檚 okay to be yourself 鈥� everyone thinks that being gay is accepted these days, but I still get messages from young people asking me for advice.鈥�
Riley believes it鈥檚 important for young LGBTI people struggling with their sexual or gender identity to understand that life gets better.
He adds that when he began to love who he was it made things much easier.
鈥淚 refuse to stay in the dark any longer,鈥� he says.
鈥淧eople are learning and society is changing, but keep loving yourself, and find people you can trust to support you, whether that鈥檚 a friend, parent, or teacher.鈥�
While he鈥檚 still learning a lot about Australia鈥檚 LGBTI history and culture, Riley says the importance of the country鈥檚 Pride festivals should never be underestimated, and that he鈥檚 honoured to help Midsumma for their fundraising event.
鈥淲hen I went to my first Mardi Gras my eyes opened to how necessary it is to celebrate being you,鈥� he says.
鈥淭hey bring the community together to celebrate love. I鈥檓 excited to meet people and perform at [Midwinta Gala].鈥�
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