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What do the actors Vincent Price and Julian McMahon, singers June Bronhill and Peter Allen, drag star Danny La Rue and transwoman April Ashley, drummer Keith Moon, and Monty Python’s Graham Chapman all have in common?
Most well known as the piano player at the iconic Albury Hotel's cocktail lounge during Gay Sydney's heyday, Hugh Patrick O’Keefe has stories to tell about all of them; sometimes serious, sometimes funny, but always entertaining. More significantly, Hugh is a member of the unique generation of Australian gay men who were born into condemnation, sometimes incarceration, for their sexuality, yet have lived to see liberation to the point of same-sex marriage.
His life takes us on a journey, sometimes turbulent, sometimes outrageous, sometimes poignant; a life that has taken him as an entertainer to many exotic corners of the world, whilst never giving up the inspiring ‘day job’ of primary school teacher.
''Palely Loitering'' is an entertaining romp through the life of one self-styled ‘very lucky man’.
Author: Hugh Patrick O'Keefe
Paperback Published October 2019
‘Hugh O’Keefe’s marvellous memoir...is a uniquely Australian social history: unpretentious, humorous, and full of lightly-worn wisdom and insights into human nature. Reading it is like spending the perfect afternoon in an old Sydney pub’s beer-garden, listening to the most relaxed and eloquent of raconteurs - and it’s all true.’ Professor Emerita PENNY GAY, The University of Sydney’
'Most gay men who grew up in Australia in the 1950s-80s were living a lie, constantly exposed to the triple risks of prosecution, job loss and shame. Hugh O’Keefe was bold, brash and usually ready to push the envelope. Inevitably, change agents like him caused great discomfort to many in Australian society. But this book illustrates the important role that ‘living a lie’ played in the preservation of oppression. One man’s life in the open thus becomes a candid, racy and very readable metaphor for major changes that happened in our society. And that are still going on in Australia and around the world.' The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG. Past Justice of the High Court of Australia and President of the International Commission of Jurists.