Maeve: Hi, I’m Maeve Marsden and you’re listening to Queerstories. This week Neville Williams Boney is a proud Wiradjuri/Weilwan man from Wagga Wagga. Neville is a 2018 Graduate of NAISDA Dance College. He is currently an independent, interdisciplinary artist living on Dharug Lands. Neville danced with Karul Projects in their work CO_EX_EN premiering at Dance Massive (2019, he was a Collaborator for Phunktional’s Beyond The Wall (2019), Associate Producer for Sydney Festival and 2021 Artist in Residence for Solid Ground, at Evans High School. Neville also co-created, BRUTAL, an Indigenous adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar with fellow graduate, Amy Flannery. Together with Jopuka Productions, this work showcased the talent of young people on the Central Coast. Neville’s passion is to pass on his cultural and creative knowledge on to the next generation through art and create his own works so he can bridge gaps in his culture, community, art and self.
Neville: Have you ever had friendships that made everyone around you question your sexuality? Like everyone thought you and your Best friend would end up together.
Well, I have. Thrice.
I really love these three people in my life. Not in a sexual way. Mostly.
My first platonic boyfriend. His name is Will. He was white, with ancestry ties to Britain. So, I knew we were not related. Which is a good sign. He was small, scrawny, blonde haired fulla. Literally one of those sweet British boys plucked out of EastEnders or The Inbetweeners.
So, William was my first. I don’t know how or why we became friends, but we became inseparable. People would treat us like we were in a 6-year relationship. When I would be alone, I were met with couple questions like “How’s Will” “What is Will up to” “Please give him our love”.
You know how you are dating someone. And when you first meet you realised how boring you actually are. Nope. Just me.
Well then, the other person you are dating introduces all these cool things only to make you interesting, for your next relationship. Well, Will did that to me. He introduced me to hobby’s that make me cool and interesting. He introduced me to Scrubs (Great Tv Show). My favourite Band Snow Patrol. Soccer. Doctor Who. Chess… Hearing all of that out loud, yeah not cool, or interesting.
When Will and I live together after graduating High School we would even have Date night. Like we would schedule it into our diaries. Every Wednesday. He would finish work; I finish dance lesson (Ballroom if you must know). We would get Chinese Takeaway. Sit side by side on our recliners and watch Doctor Who. David! Yeah, all my Gay nerds know where it’s at!
Will and I were super close. But. We grew apart. Well, I did cheat on him with his brother. He would be working all the time and hanging with his soccer friends, and I was left at home, and lonely. Will’s brother and I shared a room and we started gaming together and having pillow talk. And well one thing led to another, and we started watching Glee. So it was serious.
As time went on, we both felt this space between us, and neither of us said anything about it because then we had to believe it was real. That’s when I met Josh. I was out on the town with mates and my “friends” ditched me. Or I walk offed. I don’t know the difference. Anyway. I bump into Josh, and we introduced ourselves and we hit it off. His friends left and I was “Neville No Friends” so we decided to hang out and get drunk. After that night we invited each to parties and shindigs. I would invite josh over to our house and Will and Will’s Brother didn’t particularly like him. So, Josh was also white. Scrawny. Nicknamed “Mini”. Wild. A total Fuckboy. So Will and Josh’s personality clashed. So I move out and moved into a house with Josh. It is just us two. It was a new chapter for both of us.
Josh and My relationship were full of fun and parties. This is when we were both exploring our sexualities. Two 21-year-olds hitting the town. Wed bicker like an old married. We were toxic together any astrologist would tell you that. A Gemini and A Scorpio. Not compatible but man a sexy time!
Josh and mine friendship made everyone suspicious of us. We never did anything sexual together, though I think we Both wanted to. But we openly shared our love together. Saying I love you. Hugging each other. Sharing beds. Playing with each other hair. Resting on each other… Like Toxic Masculinity, don’t know him.
He was very adamant that we were not best friends unless we saw each other’s penis. He would argue that what if I had to ID your dead body and your penis was the thing that was intact? So, then we dropped our pants. The first guy to see my dick. It was weirdly not sexual.
After that night we hit next level best friendship! So, we both got a little jealous of other people around the other. Like other friends coming in with inside jokes, or girlfriends. We actually stopped hanging out because of his girlfriend. She hated that we would always hangout. And josh keep choosing her over me. Which no hard feelings. But ultimate we just fell out of love.
Josh is great guy. I wish I could hang out with him and go out on the town and just have shots! Josh helped me realise so many things. My passions, My sexuality (Pansexual btw) and how to live in the moment!
So when you break up with your first, Will. You found a rebound, Josh, that was never going to last. Then After you rebound break up you find another. And in the words of the great Donna Summers. This time I know it’s for real.
Hope you have been paying attention and you find my life somewhat interesting cos it going get complicated to follow because the next guy and my current Best Man is also named Josh.
This is the part of the movie where the protagonists realise “It’s you. It has always been you”. And you scream at the TV “ummm duh you idiot” while throwing popcorn at the screen.
Well Josh has been there from the start. He was Will’s best friend before me. And he had been a part of our friend group all through high school and he married a good friend of mine and now has three gorgeous children. But our friendship hit next level when he asked me to be his Best Man. He definitely fell in love first.
He still lives in my hometown and we have a stable long distance relationship. We text each other every night. Texting. How was your day. How are you feeling today and Wish you were here. toxic masculinity. No idea.
Josh is so loyal and very generous. I literally would not be standing here without him. He broke down all barriers, physically and mentally, to get me where I am now. All my successes as an artist is owed to him. I am indebted to him and all he wants in return is…. Nothing. What a bastard asking for nothing in return. Very rude!
I always wondered what I could give him. Like I don’t know what he sees in me. Like he has it made. A house, A beautiful wife, Kids, Job security. I don’t what I can provide. He is the perfect best friend. He is the one.
All I can do is be there for him and be his friend. I think the world of him. We always make time for each in our busy lives.
I am so lucky to have him in my life.
I am lucky to have had all these relationships in life.
They made me who I am today. Everything I that makes me interesting is because of these three brilliant men! I love them all still. So many memories I cherish. I just wish I could tell them how much I miss them and how much I appreciate them. Maybe one day I will get a chance.
It is a small world.
Maeve: Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to check out Queerstories on Patreon where you can support the project for as little as $1 per month. Follow Queerstories on Facebook for news and event updates and follow me, Maeve Marsden on Twitter and Instagram.
