Miranda Kerr’s brother Matty Kerr reveals inner anguish

MIRANDA Kerr’s brother Matty had a dream wedding not long ago but he confesses he’s “sick to the stomach”.

EXCLUSIVE

WEARING a glamorous gown from Christian Dior, Miranda Kerr recently had 40 guests at her laidback May wedding.

Her younger brother, Matty Kerr, had 280 at his.

Both Kerr kids decided on weddings in the “backyards” of their homes. Miranda’s at the ultra-glam US home she shares with husband, Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel.

Matty Kerr and his partner Jimmy Wright chose a five-day marriage “celebration”, with 280 people gathering for their union on the lush grounds of Leaflee, the couple’s bed and breakfast in the NSW Hunter Valley.

The boys’ ceremony was officiated by Therese Kerr, Miranda and Matty’s mum. Miranda was chief “groomsmaid”.

At both Kerr weddings, they all had the people there they truly loved. But that is where the two Kerr marriage statuses and similarities end.

Miranda is “officially” married. Matty Kerr and Jimmy still are not.

And as the outcome of the same-sex marriage postal survey looms, Matty has been experiencing serious bouts of depression.

In fact, he has been experiencing depressive episodes since the survey was approved and the campaigns on both sides began, to the point that husband Jimmy says he has totally withdrawn from so many parts of his life.

“Just when I started to feel safe in Australia for being who I am and who I love, the Australian government decides to put a vote on whether I am worthy of marrying the man I love,” Matty Kerr told news.com.au.

“The Australian government decides to put a vote on whether I am worthy of marrying the man I love. The plebiscite has opened up a whole lot of hate that I have seen on social media sites, the news and also in person.

“It has affected me personally where I just want to hide away until this whole thing is over.

“A number of my friends have completely logged out of social media as they are so affected by what they have read and the nasty comments on posts and threads.”

Matty says he and some of his friends’ mental health has suffered immensely.

“I come home from work and sit down to watch some television, an ad comes: ‘It’s OK to vote No,’” he said.

“My stomach turns and I feel sick. The No campaign are saying we are now bullies.”

Matty Kerr sits by his sister Miranda's side at his wedding. Picture: Jim Wilson

Matty says the the LGTBQI community has been bullied its entire life.

“We are not bullying, we are trying to have a voice for once and we are sick and tired of being treated like second-class citizens,” he said.

“We have not been fully accepted in the Australian way of life. I am angry and upset that the plebiscite has even happened.

“I hope one day I can walk down the street holding my partner’s hand and not be in fear of being ridiculed or abused.”

Matty and Jimmy have had nothing but support from Miranda and the entire Kerr clan, with Miranda happily using the public platform she has to support her brother and brother-in-law.

“I’ve had a really different feeling over the last two weeks since we have all been voting,’’ said Jimmy Kerr.

“When I rewind nine months ago when we were married, I finished that day feeling absolutely married.

“The act of saying ‘I do’ and exchanging vows actually changed me.

“Now, to be honest, there is a real unease that it may not happen this time. Sh*t. It just may not happen.

“If the No campaign win because of cunning and deceitful marketing, the disappointment so many of us in Australia will be just shocked to the core.

“We are all emotionally upset and if it ends up so close to the bone it just may not happen when it goes to parliament.”

Matty is constantly doing his same-sex marriage research and is always up with the latest stats.

“Here’s my five cents worth after some very deep thought,’’ he told news.com.au.

“One in five straight people get married more than once. One in three marriages end in divorce. Less straight people got married in 2015 than in 2014 (the last accurate numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics) and 11 per cent and growing are the proportion of marriages that are second marriages for both parties.

“More than 70 per cent of marriages are overseen by a civil celebrant rather than a priest or religious celebrant. Marriage is no longer a Christian or religious property by any stretch of the imagination.”

Model Miranda Kerr with brother Matthew, father John and mother Therese at the launch of Kids Helpline at The Sydney Trust in the Sydney CBD.

The LGBTQI community includes 46,800 same-sex couples, according to the 2016 census results. Many have been in hidden stable relationships for a lot longer than their straight counterparts.

“Allowing these relationships to be included in marriage statistics by extending the right to marry would go a long way to immediately ‘save’ the institution of marriage from a statistical perspective,’’ added Matty.

“Eleven per cent of the Australian population identify as LGBTQI allowing us the right to get married opens up the institution to about two million potential new ‘customers’.

“There just has to be a Yes vote as No is an inhumane judgement on 11 per cent of the population, similar to racism or sexism in the last century.

“A No vote is a vote of no confidence in the institution of marriage as a viable vehicle for our social structures in the future.”

To reiterate their commitment even further, Matty and Jimmy launched Pokolbin Pride in 2016. The LGBTQI festival has sister Miranda’s support and was launched to highlight the importance of our government passing the bill for marriage equality.

Happening in October in the NSW Hunter Valley, it sees the entire community — businesses and local council — come together to raise awareness of the fact that a huge section of our community are denied the basic human right of being able to marry their life partner, simply because they are a same-sex couple.

Miranda Kerr's brother Matt Kerr (left) with his husband Jimmy at their restaurant, Nanna Kerr's Kitchen. Picture: Hareth Tayem

“My marriage is legal. Why shouldn’t theirs be?” Miranda said. “Equality is something I believe in and I’m proud of the work my brother and Jimmy are doing by creating the Pokolbin Pride festival.

On a health-oriented note, mental health groups have reported a huge upsurge in people seeking help since the plebiscite was announced, with five leading mental health groups — Reach Out, The Black Dog Institute, HeadSpace, Orygen and Sydney University’s Brain and Mind Centre — banding together and going directly to the government for help.

“This has become a matter of urgency for them and they have launched an unprecedented public campaign in favour of reform, claiming it could help prevent 3000 youth suicide attempts each year,’’ says Jimmy.

Matty, Jimmy and much of the Australian community can only wish the word Yes wins out.

“We are one of the most multicultural and diverse countries in the world and it is still an extraordinary situation,” added Jimmy.

“When we started the immediate campaign, when the postal vote was spoken about, we all thought the Yes vote would storm in, but we are all, collectively, more concerned.

“My sister-in-law is on board as is the the entire Kerr clan. There is no denying the impact of Miranda’s social influence and she has come out on a number of occasions supporting us.

“She has just very simplistically made it about love. And that is what it is all about.”

@melissahoyer