As new Greens MP Stephen Bates stood up to deliver his first speech in federal parliament late Wednesday afternoon, he recognised the symbolism went well beyond the rainbow-coloured “bin chicken” over his left breast.
“There have been two pivotal moments for me that have shaped who I am and my politics,” Bates said in his emotional first speech to the House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon.
For the first time, an openly gay MP was replaced in the House of Representatives by another openly gay MP. “Her 14-year-old son wanted to donate some of his pocket money to our campaign. When she asked him why, he said he had read the letter and wanted me to win.“It is not enough to wave a rainbow flag when it is politically convenient. Our community deserves tangible legislation that protects us from discrimination, and empowers us to be who we are.”“The pay was very low and the hours would be long, but it was an offer I did not want to refuse,” he said.
Bates said things “came to a head” for him when he found a colleague crying on the floor in a stockroom.
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