Trevor Ashley On Coming Together For Orlando

By Samuel Leighton-Dore

Local stage legend Trevor Ashley is crying on the telephone – and I don’t really know what to say.

I’ve called Ashley to discuss From Sydney With Love, the mammoth fundraising event he’s organised in mere weeks for the victims of the Orlando massacre and their families. Expecting to be met by his trademark rasp and joviality, it’s immediately apparent that Ashley is still reeling from the tragic events of earlier this month.

The spark is still there, but it’s damp with tears.

So yeah, for the record: not only is Ashley an absolute testament to the hard work, talent and integrity of our LGBTQI+ entertainment industry, but he’s got a heart of bloody gold.

After spearheading the concert, which has already received huge support from Lord Clover Moore and The City of Sydney, there’s little doubt that his personal connection to the 49 lives lost runs deep.

“Look, it’s like we all lost family.” He tells me.

“It’s very strange, it feels like it could’ve been any of us in the club on that night. We haven’t for a while had an attack of this kind on us, I just think the situation was so howling and so awful, I think everyone had a very human reaction. It’s just a very hard situation.”

“It fills me with so much sadness.”

Despite his sadness, Ashley also echoes the immense frustration felt by much of the LGBTQI+ community in the response from Malcolm Turnbull and his failure to acknowledge the shooting as a targeted hate crime.

“The response from the government here was disappointing. They didn’t see it as an attack on us and our community. I disagree, I don’t think it was terrorism, I think it was a hate crime. I thought it was very sad that it wasn’t acknowledged that way.” Ashley says.

“That’s why I think we need to do something like this, our community needs that opportunity to come together.”

If ever there was a man up to the task of rallying a fabulous bunch of queer-loving troops, Trevor Ashley is him. Joking that he’s slept with half of Sydney, Ashley says it was no challenge to find those willing to support the cause. With further names yet to be announced, the gala will be featuring the brilliant talents of Joel Creasey, Magda Szubanski, Bob Downe, Paul Capsis and Simon Burke.

“I think it really has unified everyone. I think it’s so important, because there are so many factions, so many people wanting different things, and I think it’s been a great reminder of what really matters.” He says.

“When people say things like ‘Mardi Gras isn’t important anymore’, I think events like this proves that it still is. It really is. I’m glad we’re doing it. The amount of support we’ve had has been so beautiful. The City of Sydney is covering all the costs, all the staffing and the venue. It’s great to know that we have so much support.”

“The number of people who have come out of the wood-works to say they’ll do anything to help…” Ashley tears up. “Everyone’s been so wonderful and so giving of their talents. Even if they’re not doing a solo, they’re flying in to participate in the closing number.”

“The night will be a celebration with laughs and lots of fabulous people.”

Tickets are available for pre-sale through Ticketmaster from today, with full sale on tomorrow. Ticketmaster have kindly waived their booking fees to ensure that 100% of profits go to the victims and their families in Orlando.