More than 100 locals have rallied to help a gay man defy cruel trolls who threatened him because he wanted to paint his house rainbow-coloured.
Mykey O’Halloran, 29, moved into a bungalow on Phillip Island, off the coast of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, on February 12 in a sea-swap from Melbourne.
After the Covid-19 lockdown, the professional hair artist made the major-life decision to put down a deposit on his first home and relocate to live by the beach.
But the exciting new chapter in his life was tainted just four weeks later when a group of neighbours caught wind of his plans to revamp his property.
Mykey O’Halloran, 29, (pictured) moved to Phillip Island in February after buying his first home
On the evening of March 16, the group allegedly showed up on his door step and started verbally assaulting Mr O’Halloran with death threats and homophobic slurs.
‘It was a very one-sided argument. They thought it would devalue their house by $20,000 and that the colours were stupid,’ Mr O’Halloran told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Once the homophobic slurs came out, I felt like it was a deeper than the house colour and it was more of a personal attack.
‘I felt scared for my safety and my life and uncomfortable in my own home.’
Upon hearing the commotion, other neighbours rushed to his aid and called police.
A 23-year-old man was later charged with making threats to kill and unlawful assault.
A before shot shows Mr O’Halloran’s Phillip Island home before it was painted over the weekend
More than 100 supporters flocked to the residence to help the hair artist transform his home (pictured)
After the incident, Mr Halloran took to social media to express his upset and was quickly bombarded with hundreds of messages from people offering to come pick up a brush.
Even businesses became involved, with labourers and painters proposing their services and Dulux donating 42 litres of paint – enough to cover the entire house.
Over the weekend, dozens of people – some from as far as Melbourne- showed up to decorate the residence in vibrant strips of colour.
Mr O’Halloran said he was overwhelmed by the community support.
‘It was amazing. People came by, left, then came back. Some people just came up to show their support and give me a hug. We had a whole team of kids involved, there was a BBQ,’ he said.
‘It was a whole day of community coming together as one.’
Mr O’Halloran said he has always loved the expression of colour and always wanted a rainbow house
In light of the event’s success, Mr O’Halloran has launched a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the Phillip Island Community & Learning Centre (PICAL) to run LGBTIQA+ awareness training and support programs and community events.
Mr O’Halloran said he has always held an affinity for bright colours and could not wait to have a rainbow house, checking with the local council three times before actioning his plan.
‘My first tattoo was the rainbow, I just love rainbows. I’m a gay man and I’m open and I’m proud to be. But for me, it has never been a symbol for Mardi Gras. I just think colour is fun and expressive,’ he said.
The professional hair artist sent internet users into a frenzy last year after sharing an emoji-inspired hairdo (pictured)
‘I express colourfully naturally as my job as a rainbow hair artist. A lot of my clients are not LGBT; they just love rainbows.’
Renowned for his eye-popping multi-coloured designs, the professional hair artist has made headlines numerous times.
In 2016, he raising $37,000 for the Make-A-Wish foundation by reenacting Australian-icons, such as the Big Pineapple and Big Lobster on top of women’s scalp, a role he credits with transforming his career and converting him into a colour specialist.
Last year, he sent the internet into a frenzy once again after sharing an image over his business page Unicorn Mane of a hairdo dyed to look like an emoji vomiting a rainbow.
