List of LGBTI holders of political offices in Australia
This is a list of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) holders of political offices in Australia.[1][2] Currently and historically there are no intersex parliamentarians, although Tony Briffa is known as the world's first openly intersex mayor[3] and "first known intersex public office-bearer in the Western world",[4] having served as Deputy Mayor of the City of Hobsons Bay between 2009–2011 and Mayor between 2011–2012.[3][4][5][6]
Federal parliament
Name | Image | Party | Seat | Term in Office | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Don Dobie[7] | ![]() | Liberal | Member for Hughes | 26 November 1966 | 25 October 1969 | ||
Member for Cook | 25 October 1969 | 2 December 1972 | |||||
13 December 1975 | 29 January 1996 | ||||||
Neil Brown[8] | ![]() | Liberal | Member for Diamond Valley | 25 October 1969 | 2 December 1972 | Came out in 1996 | |
13 December 1975 | 5 March 1983 | ||||||
Member for Menzies | 1 December 1984 | 25 February 1991 | |||||
Neal Blewett[9] | ![]() | Labor | Member for Bonython | 10 December 1977 | 11 February 1994 | Came out in 2000 | |
Colin Hollis[10] | Labor | Member for Macarthur | 5 March 1983 | 1 December 1984 | |||
Member for Throsby | 1 December 1984 | 8 October 2001 | |||||
Bob Brown[11] | ![]() | Greens | Senator for Tasmania | 1 July 1996 | 15 June 2012 | ||
Brian Greig[12] | ![]() | Democrats | Senator for Western Australia | 1 July 1999 | 30 June 2005 | ||
Penny Wong[13] | ![]() | Labor | Senator for South Australia | 1 July 2002 | incumbent | ||
Louise Pratt[14] | ![]() | Labor | Senator for Western Australia | 1 July 2008 | 30 June 2014 | ||
2 July 2016 | incumbent | ||||||
Dean Smith[15] | ![]() | Liberal | Senator for Western Australia | 2 May 2012 | incumbent | ||
Janet Rice[16] | ![]() | Greens | Senator for Victoria | 1 July 2014 | incumbent | ||
Robert Simms[17] | ![]() | Greens | Senator for South Australia | 22 September 2015 | 2 July 2016 | ||
Trent Zimmerman[18] | ![]() | Liberal | Member for North Sydney | 5 December 2015 | 23 May 2022 | ||
Trevor Evans[19] | ![]() | Liberal | Member for Brisbane | 2 July 2016 | 23 May 2022 | ||
Julian Hill[20] | ![]() | Labor | Member for Bruce | 2 July 2016 | incumbent | ||
Tim Wilson[20] | ![]() | Liberal | Member for Goldstein | 2 July 2016 | 23 May 2022 | ||
Kerryn Phelps[21] | ![]() | Independent | Member for Wentworth | 20 October 2018 | 18 May 2019 | ||
Angie Bell[22] | Liberal | Member for Moncrieff | 18 May 2019 | incumbent | |||
Nita Green[23] | Labor | Senator for Queensland | 1 July 2019 | incumbent | |||
Stephen Bates[24] | ![]() | Greens | Member for Brisbane | 28 May 2022 | incumbent |
- Former:
- Bob Brown (Independent Green) – 1983–1993[11]
- Alison Standen (Labor) – 2018–2021[25]
- Historic firsts:
- Party leader: Bob Brown (Greens) – 1989–1993[11]
- Current:
- Penny Sharpe (Labor) – 2005[26]
- Chris Rath (Liberal) – 2022[27]
- Amanda Cohn (Greens) – 2023[28]
- Jacqui Munro (Liberal) – 2023[29]
- Former:
- Michael Yabsley (Liberal) – 1984–1994 [30] [Came out: 2020]
- Paul O'Grady (Labor) – 1988–1996[31] [Came out: 1990]
- Michael Egan (Labor) – 1986–2005[32] [Came out: 1995]
- Helen Westwood (Labor) – 2007–2015[33]
- Don Harwin (Liberal) – 2011–2022[34] [Came out: 2014]
- Shayne Mallard (Liberal) – 2015–2023[35]
- Mark Pearson (Animal Justice) – 2015–2023[36]
- Current:
- Alex Greenwich (Independent) – 2012[37]
- Former:
- Michael Egan (Labor) – 1978–1984[32]
- Tony Doyle (Labor) – 1985–1994[38] [Came out: 1994]
- Bruce Notley-Smith (Liberal) – 2011–2019[39]
- Current:
- Stephen Dawson (Labor) – 2013[40]
- Peter Foster (Labor) – 2021[41]
- Former:
- Giz Watson (Greens) – 1997–2013[42]
- Lynn MacLaren (Greens) – 2005, 2009–2017[43]
- Louise Pratt (Labor) – 2001–2007[44]
- Current
- Stuart Aubrey (Labor) – 2021[45]
- Lisa Baker (Labor) – 2008[46]
- John Carey (Labor) – 2017[47]
- Former:
- John Hyde (Labor) – 2001–2013[48]
- Current:
- Harriet Shing (Labor) – 2014[49]
- Joe McCracken (Liberal) – 2022[50]
- Aiv Puglielli (Greens) – 2022[51]
- Former:
- Andrew Olexander (Liberal) – 1999–2006[52]
- Current:
- Steve Dimopoulos (Labor) – 2014[53]
- Gabrielle de Vietri (Greens) – 2022[54]
- Current:
- Ian Hunter (Labor) – 2006[55]
- Former:
- Don Dunstan (Labor) – 1953–1979[56]
- Kelly Vincent (Dignity) – 2010–2018[57]
- Historic Firsts:
- Premier: Don Dunstan (Labor) – 1967
- Current:
- Andrew Barr (Labor) – 2006[58]
- Chris Steel (Labor) – 2016[59]
- Suzanne Orr (Labor) – 2016[60]
- Laura Nuttall (Greens) – 2023[61]
- Former:
- Jonathan Davis (Greens) – 2020-2023 (resigned)
- Historic firsts:
- Government minister: Andrew Barr (Labor) – 2006[58]
- Chief Minister: Andrew Barr (Labor) – 2014[58]
Current:
- Chansey Paech (Labor) – 2016[62]
Officeholders:
- Leader of the Opposition: Jodeen Carney (Liberal) – (2005)
- Speaker of the Assembly: Chansey Paech (Labor) – (2020)
See also
References
- ^ "Where your MP stands on Marriage Equality".
- ^ "Senators and Members". www.aph.gov.au.
- ^ a b "Intersex Mayor Elected in Australia". Advocate.com. 9 December 2011.
- ^ a b "Briffa to march in mayoral robes". Star Observer. 8 December 2011.
- ^ "Tony Briffa Of Australia's City Of Hobsons Bay Becomes World's First Intersex Mayor". The Huffington Post. 10 December 2011.
- ^ "World's first intersex mayor, Cr Tony Briffa does not want to be called he or she". Herald Sun. 15 April 2013.
- ^ Cunneen, Chris. "Dobie, James Donald (Don) (1927–1996)". People Australia. National Centre of Biography. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "The rise of LGBTIQ politicians". Election Watch – Australia 2016. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Why politicians are well within their rights to sue journalists". Crikey. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Ramsey, Alan (29 May 2004). "Spouse du jour, more to the point". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ a b c "Bob Brown | Australian politician". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "The day a gay WA polly took a stand in Parliament". The West Australian. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Belonksy, Andrew (5 December 2007). "Aussie Lesbian Makes Political History". www.queerty.com. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Pratt mum on her next role". The West Australian. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Hooton, Amanda (14 December 2017). "Same-sex marriage's unlikely hero: Liberal Dean Smith, the 'invisible man'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Birnbauer, William (9 September 2007). "Gender changes, but a wife's love stays". The Age. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ Ireland, Judith (13 October 2015). "New senator Robert Simms talks of struggle to come out". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Butler, Josh (11 April 2016). "There's More To Trent Zimmerman Than Being A Gay Liberal In The House Of Reps". Huffington Post. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Andree Withey (31 July 2017). "Queensland's first openly gay MP wants same-sex marriage vote now". ABC News. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ a b Reynolds, Andrew (15 October 2018). The Children of Harvey Milk. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190460952.
- ^ Feller, Jennifer (3 December 2018). "How a celebrity doctor became one of the most powerful women in Canberra". ABC News. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Gay LNP federal election 2019 candidate Angie Bell hopes to make history in blue ribbon seat". ABC News. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ "Senator Nita Green Wife Lacey are expecting their first child". Star Observer. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ Bowman, Jan (19 May 2022). "Could the LGBTQI Vote Make a Difference in Brisbane". Westender. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ "Family first for ALP's first openly gay Tasmanian candidate Alison Standen". www.news.com.au. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Nicholls, Sean (19 October 2014). "Labor candidate for Newtown Penny Sharpe takes the wraps off her family". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Legislative Council Hansard – 10 May 2022 – Proof – Inaugural Speeches". 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Amanda Cohn". Parliament of NSW. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ "About – the Hon. Jacqui Munro MLC".
- ^ "'I lived with a lot of denial': Former politician Michael Yabsley's new life". 5 June 2020.
- ^ Nicholls, Sean (18 January 2015). "First openly gay state MP Paul O'Grady dies in Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Outed MP not alone: 1 in 5 men gay". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "NSW gay marriage bill fails by one vote". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Hasham, Nicole (20 November 2014). "Liberal MP Don Harwin discloses he is gay". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Brook, Benedict (6 May 2015). "Marriage equality "not the be all and end all" says new gay NSW Liberal MP". Star Observer. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "NSW's newest gay MP supports marriage equality but won't be heading down the aisle". Star Observer. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "First gay MP for Sydney equality". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Retiring MPs – NSW Votes 2011 – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Southeast Liberals high hopes for Malcolm". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Gay couple first to marry in ACT". www.heraldsun.com.au. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "About Peter". peterfostermlc.com.au. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ Southern, ABC Great (24 June 2016). "Politicians agree to disagree on same-sex marriage plebiscite". ABC News. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Lynn MacLaren – Same-Sex Marriage Bill in WA Reaches First Milestone | Australian Marriage Equality". Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Louise Pratt". www.alp.org.au. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "WA MP Stuart Aubrey shares his coming out experience". Out in Perth. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ Andrew O'Connor (23 September 2015). "Passionate plea for marriage equality in WA Parliament". ABC News. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ McNeill, Heather (14 December 2017). "'Being gay just feels normal here': Perth's most popular suburbs for same sex couples to live revealed". WAtoday. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Hyde, John, ed. (2008). John Hyde MLA, Member for Perth. Perth, W.A: John Hyde.
- ^ Riley, Benjamin (28 January 2015). "Creating federal LGBTI portfolio could encourage new LGBTI MPs: rights lobby". Star Observer. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "Critics take to social media to condemn Joe McCracken's 'internalised homophobia'". news.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ "Candidates". It Takes More. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ Mckenzie, Nick (29 November 2005). "Victorian Libs oust Olexander". ABC News (Australia) PM. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^ Hirst, Jordan (27 June 2022). "Victoria's first openly gay cabinet ministers were just sworn in". QNews. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
- ^ Thomas, Shibu (28 November 2022). "Greens' Gabrielle De Vietri is Victoria's Newest Out Member of Parliament". Star Observer. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ "Hunter first MP in gay marriage". www.adelaidenow.com.au. 20 January 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "First biography since Don Dunstan's death reveals his double life drove him to resign". www.adelaidenow.com.au. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ lauredhel (8 April 2010). "Quickhit: Kelly Vincent elected to Upper House in South Australia!". Hoyden About Town. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ a b c McIlroy, Tom (5 December 2014). "Andrew Barr set to become Australia's first openly gay state or territory leader". Canberra Times. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ Burgess, Katie (13 December 2016). "Second gay ACT parliamentarian Chris Steel tips hat to chief minister Andrew Barr for paving the way". Canberra Times. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ "It's not just a survey, it's personal – HerCanberra.com.au". hercanberra.com.au. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ "Meet Laura Nuttall, the ACT's youngest and newest politician". 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Chansey Paech is Australia's first gay, Indigenous parliamentarian". Topics. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- v
- t
- e
LGBT Politicians and Office-holders by country