Michael Kirby, Australia’s foremost human rights lawyer and advocate, is due to turn 86 this March. Kirby, who is widely known for his fierce advocacy for social justice, remains as committed as ever to his work as a lawyer and an advocate for LGBTIQ+ equality. His journey of self-acceptance started in elementary school, where he first noticed his attraction towards other boys. In 1999, he came out as gay in public. It was a powerful moment for equality and a huge step forward in his lifelong advocacy.
One of Kirby’s notable acts of visibility was listing the letter ‘p’ for partner beside Johan van Vloten’s name in Who’s Who Magazine. In doing so, this all important gesture confirmed his identity. Beyond all of that, it did so much to normalize same-sex relationships in places that had traditionally been public spaces. Defending the latest proposal, in 2017, Kirby warned the marriage equality postal vote would have serious consequences for LGBTQ Australians. He feared a national plebiscite on LGBTIQ+ rights would delegitimize the worth of the community. To his own chagrin, he found himself voting ‘yes’ in Ireland’s marriage equality referendum. In the summer of 2019, he delighted his friends by marking his golden jubilee with Johan.
Ross Rahman, a 48-year-old finance professional originally from Singapore, offers another perspective on the journey of self-acceptance within the LGBTIQ+ community. Raised as a Muslim, Rahman started to deal with his sexuality after moving to Australia in 1999 for his studies. Looking back today, he reflects on an intense fight within himself that lasted 30 years, as he struggled with who he was.
“It never occurred to me that there would be an organization of queer Muslims,” Rahman said. “I knew there were queer Muslims out there individually… But this time around I felt I found my home.”
Rahman’s experience is familiar to so many who have gone through the same gauntlet. Looking back on his adolescence today, he remembers how difficult it was for him to find clarity around his emotions.
“When all my peers and my fellow friends in schools were pairing off, I was not interested,” Rahman shared. “I guess that was slightly different because I was a bit confused.”
That confusion, though, was accompanied by a welcoming culture that supported him as he explored who he was. He mentioned that living in Canberra provided him a safer space in which to express his sexuality. From there, he moved to Sydney, calling it a wonderful but hectic environment for a young gay man.
KL Joy (she/her), 55, archivist and historian based in Ballarat, Victoria I have been advocating for LGBTIQ+ rights since 2004, very passionately. As a non-binary person, they have documented the major, pervasive contributions to the community. As a parent of a soon-to-be-18-year-old son, Joy believes that it’s crucial to foster an accepting space for the next generation.
“The conversations are so natural that they’ll just talk about their girlfriend or their boyfriend or whatever,” Joy explained. “And there’s no expectation of like, I’m coming out.”
Joy’s path has not been without its hardships. They write about a life changing experience at 47 when they learned about gender nonconformity from a family member.
“So I was 47. I had a conversation with one of my niblings and they said the words gender nonconforming,” Joy recalled. “It was like a crucible; it cracked me open to change me in ways that I couldn’t have expected at that time.”
Joy has struggled with the pressures of fame, society and Hollywood’s narrow norms for self expression. In the process, they articulated the struggle to conform to traditional gender roles while seeking to be their most authentic selves.
“I was like, my aesthetic doesn’t support that, but that’s who I am,” Joy said. “How do I portray that when I’ve got boobs and a butt?”
The experiences of Kirby, Rahman, and Joy reflect the diverse journeys within the LGBTIQ+ community and highlight the ongoing struggle for acceptance and equality. Despite the steps taken, Kirby underscored the work still needed after trans people of color—who are leading today’s movement for change—have been on the frontlines.
“My own experience in dealing with the LGBTIQ communities… is that trans people have a very difficult life,” Kirby stated. “But the struggle isn’t over and it’s the trans people who are at the moment really on the front line.”
In her retrospective masterpiece, as they look back on their journeys, each person highlights the poignant need for love and community. The movement for justice has changed and grown, but there’s no doubt that celebration and commemoration still play an important role in their struggle.
KL Joy can’t help but recall the fiery landscape of Australia’s marriage equality postal vote. He recalls those first days as “the hundred days of hell.” The new makeshift campaigning challenges could not dim the optimism they had for younger generations.
“I call it the hundred days of hell… I didn’t know if I had to fight or flight,” Joy remarked, highlighting the emotional toll activism can take.
The stories told by these inspiring creatives are beautiful testimonies to the strength and bravery of the LGBTIQ+ community. While they fight for trans advancement and recognition, their narratives shed light on the intricacies of love, acceptance, and selfhood.
