Meet Australia’s Out Gay Members Of Parliament
Australia has elected one of its most diverse Parliaments, as the country voted against attempts by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison to push wedge politics to the national stage for electoral gains.
While the media attention was focussed on the ‘teal wave’, this election showed that the ‘pink wave’ was here to stay. There are eight out gay, lesbian and bisexual members of parliament, with Labor Senator and foreign minister Penny Wong emerging as one of the most powerful LGBTQI political leaders in Australia.
Some out gay Liberal MPs were voted out, but in good news a more progressive Parliament was voted in. The eight out members in the House of Representatives and the Senate include, Senator Wong, Senator Loiuse Pratt, Senator Dean Smith, Senator Janet Rice, Senator Nita Green, MP Julian Hill, MP Angie Bell and MP Stephen Bates. “We are especially thankful to all the advocates and organisations who worked to defeat the Religious Discrimination Bill and look forward to working with all parties to ensure LGBTIQ+ students and teachers are properly protected from discrimination,” said Spirovska.
Star Observer takes a look at the Gay and Lesbian members of Australia’s Parliament.MP Stephen BatesTwenty-nine-year-old Stephene Bates is the newest out gay MP to be elected to the Parliament at the 2022 federal elections from the seat of Brisbane.
