Sat 19 May 2007 In: Hall of Fame View at Wayback View at NDHA
Michael Bancroft As the chair of the HERO Charitable Trust, Michael Bancroft caused a stir recently with the announcement that the HERO Parade may return in 2009. But Bancroft's commitment to glbt community initiatives goes way back beyond his stint at Hero. How long have you been involved with the HERO Festival and how did you get started? I have been involved with Hero Party, Parade, Festival in one form or another since the very beginnings in 1991. From 1990 to 1996 I was a member and one-time Chairperson of ACAS (Auckland Community AIDS Services). Our volunteers used to do things like assist at the Party to help raise funds for those HIV positive people we gave welfare type support to. This was in the days before Body Positive as we know it now existed. We worked alongside CART and we also supported Herne Bay House. In the late 1990's I was also Chairperson of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and am still a supportive member. How are things going with future HERO Festival planning at the moment? From the generally positive response to the 2007 Festival from comments made (also measured by a very distinct lack of criticism) and supported by the fact there were some 35 known HERO events we feel there is a mandate to continue with and plan for a 2008 Festival. We are currently receiving expressions of interest for events in the 2008 Festival and numerous 2007 organisers have said “ We'll be there!” and I've already had a couple of requests for new events. I guess that in the last few weeks the fact three new Trustees have been found without too much difficulty and three others have offered their services as advisers we can say there is a positive attitude to joining the HERO team. The BMG (Brand Management Group) re-groups after each Festival as new organisers come on board so we are in the early stages of the BMG getting under way for 2008. Once again I guess that having six active people already would indicate a good level of support though more are needed. What's your background – where did you grow up? I grew up in Henderson (before they started calling us Westies!) when it was a rather small village surrounded by scores of orchards and vineyards owned by the Dallies - Croatian immigrants and their families for the most part. My father grew up in Grey (Gay!) Lynn and my mother came from Leicester England. I am the eldest of five and have a gay brother who lives in Sydney. My other (straight) brother has a gay son! ….maybe there was something in the water! I did my primary schooling with many of those who now manage the major wineries (Delegats, Selaks, and the like). I spent 32 years within the Catholic Church in a formal sense. Firstly (1970-1983) as a Secondary School teacher within the Marist Brothers Order. My subjects were English, French, Latin and of course Religious Studies. I cut my teeth in Invercargill, came back to Auckland and then ended up in Hamilton. While I was a soccer coach I take some pride in the fact that I taught two of NZ's top Rugby Referees in Paddy O'Brien and Paul Honiss. I became a Catholic Priest in 1987 until 1999 and served in various parishes around Auckland city. It was from this time I became very involved with the gay community when I was asked to help care for (men) dying from HIV and AIDS related causes. I am still involved in this privileged care and sadly have now supported over 140 to their death... and still help many of those now living long term with the virus. In many ways this leads into what we might call my coming out. Since 1999, I've been working for St John as a Manager for Volunteer members. So when did you come out as gay, and what was it like for you at the time? I knew I was [different] at age 12… I knew how to cruise even then! I was later to discover there were actually 8 of us in my 4th Form class, even sat next to one of them and never knew it! I was actually 28 when I first told someone I was gay. He told me he was because he wanted to join the Church and wondered if they would let gay people in! I had been ‘in‘ the Church for ten years at that stage though it was all very closet stuff. Contrary to the sad tales of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in more recent years I never actually witnessed any of it in my own situations. I really came out, so to speak, when studying for the priesthood, at the tender age of 35. There were enough other (gay men) in the Seminary at the time to make one feel safe to identify! In 1999 I eventually accepted the fact that the Church was not likely to change its stance or teachings in my lifetime so realizing that the wall wasn't going to crumble I moved out. In fact it was eight years ago, (the very week I write this story). It was very difficult for me because despite all the negativity one could experience in the institution of the Church I found myself actually very rewarded in my ministry in the Church all those years. It was in my blood. I was very well supported. I know many parishioners realized I was gay but it never seemed to phase them. When I did leave I got incredible expressions of support. I will always remember one lady, well into her 70's saying…”when will the church ever realize it has to accept difference “ and another who gave the bishop a telling off for not making it possible for (good priests) like me to keep on going. What's your relationship status? Single, surrounded by great friends and probably will be content to remain that way. What do you think is the most pressing issue currently facing the NZ GLBT population? Two things really. Still the need to be understood and accepted in the context of a primarily heterosexual world and the need to see HIV a reality for any of us if we do not make appropriate decisions. Favourite music at the moment? Always been a classicist ….except for piano sonatas!! Favourite movies? Not much of a movie goer but in recent times did enjoy Borat! Favourite TV programmes? Anything where they are solving Crime! CSI and yes, at my age… the NEWS! Favourite websites? I give NZ Dating a look now and then but I have a problem... I don't lie and lots of guys on there seem to love clouding their truth. Who in the world (including NZ) would you most like to have dinner with and why? My close friends or family. I don't need a mask then! Which LGBT people do you most look up to? Many of our young people who are willing to take the risk to be their true (gay) selves in ways which were not possible for me or many of my era. If you could have one wish granted what would it be? To live whatever years I have left surrounded by the great friends I have and new ones yet to be met. GayNZ.com - 19th May 2007