New Greens MP's Emotional Maiden Speech On Coming Out
July 31, 2022The first Greens MP to represent Brisbane, Australia in the federal parliament, Stephen Bates, made an emotional maiden speech to parliament, which focused on the issue of mental health.
He shared his coming out story, the importance of inclusivity, and addressed Australia's mental health crisis during his first speech to federal parliament, according to SBS News.
Stephen Bates made history on May 21 as the first Greens MP elected for the seat of Brisbane. He said his experience working poverty-wage jobs and coming out as gay shaped his politics.
“I spent my teenage years knowing I was gay and doing everything in my power to hide it,” he told parliament on Wednesday.
“I made a promise to myself once I came out that if I ever found myself in a public role, that I will be open and proud of who I am. That I would be the person that I never saw growing up, because if I can even help one person out there, then this life would have all been worth it.”
Mr. Bates said that sharing his story was harder than he thought it would be. He would, he said, use his time in parliament to advocate for those who have lost their voices and shared the story of 24-year-old Maya Birch, who took her own life earlier this year.
“Maya is just one name in a long list of people who have had their lives cut short because of government inaction,” Mr. Bates said.
“The decisions we make in this place impact people's ability to survive. It is my job now to make sure that Maya's death was not in vain.”
Mr. Bates received a standing ovation from the crossbench upon the conclusion of his speech.
Read related myGwork articles here:
Australia Counts Number Of Same-Sex Marriages For First Time In Census
Neighbours Star Georgie Stone Receives Order Of Australia Award For Supporting Trans Youth
Australia Marks One Year Anniversary of Equal Marriage with Same-Sex Traffic Lights
Senior Muslim Leader in Australia Says Gay Teachers Are “Mentally Unwell”
Keep up to date with the latest myGnews