In 1996 Michael Kirby became the first openly gay person to be appointed to Australia’s High Court

Michael Kirby became the 40th judge appointed to the High Court of Australia, and the first openly gay member of the court, on this day in 1996. The highest court in Australia has just seven judges and being appointed to the court is seen as the pinnacle of a career in the legal profession.

During his time on the court Kirby was nicknamed ‘The Great Dissenter’ as he often disagreed with his colleagues on matters before the court, especially on cases relating to the constitution.

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Kirby retired from the court on 2 February 2009, shortly before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. He was succeeded by Virginia Bell became the first lesbian appointed to the High Court. Bell is a ’78er who marched in the first Mardi Gras parade. Bell retired from the court in March 2021.

After finishing his tenue on the High Court Kirby has lead a commission of inquiry for the United Nations into Human Rights abuses in North Korea and campaigned for British Colonial era laws outlawing homosexuality to be removed in Malaysia, Singapore, India and other former colonies.

He was a prominent campaigner for marriage equality in the lead up to Australia’s postal survey that lead to the laws being changed, and been a continual champion for LGBTIQ+ rights. He speaks regularly at universities and conferences. More recently Kirby has been at outspoken opponent of the Morrison government’s proposed Religious Freedom legislation.

In 2019 Kirby wed Johan van Vloten, fifty years after the couple first met. The pair met in the Bottoms Up Bar of the former Rex Hotel in Sydney in 1969.

Michael Kirby shared many stories from his life in his 2011 book Michael Kirby: A Private Life, fragments, memories, friends. 

In 1971 the Campaign Against Moral Persecution (C.A.M.P) was formed

One of Australia’s most significant gay rights organisations, the Campaign Against Moral Persecution, was formed.

Their first gathering brought together a group of gay men and lesbians at a Church Hall in Balmain, Sydney. Soon after there were branches across Australia, including a WA chapter. The group’s monthly newsletter was titled Camp Ink, and helped connect activists across the nation.

The organisation was launched at a time when homosexuality was still illegal across all Australian state’s and territories. Founding members included prominent activists Les Watson, Peter Bonsall-Boone and his partner Peter de Waal.

The group set up a phone service called Phone-a-Friend that gave support for gay, lesbian and transgender people. Today it continues on as the national service Q-Life.

CAMP is credited with significant campaigning that led to Australian government’s slowly changing their laws regarding homosexuality.

Remembering French sociologist and HIV/AIDS activist Daniel Defert

French sociologist and HIV/AIDS activist Daniel Defert passed away at the age of 85 in 2023.

Defert was the partner of Michel Foucault, the writer, philosopher, and literary critic who died of an AIDS-related death in 1984. Following his passing Defert founded AIDES, the first national HIV/AIDS organisation in France. The organization’s name is a play on the French word for help – aide, and the English acronym for the disease.

Like his late partner, Defert studied philosophy, and he went on to become a Professor of Sociology. He met Foucault while the pair were both students. Their relationship lasted from 1963 until Foucault’s death.

After founding AIDES he served as the organisation’s president from 1984 until 1991. He also served as a committee member for human sciences of the International Conference on AIDS from 1986 – 1994. Additionally, he was a member of the United Nation’s World Commission for AIDS from 988 – 1993 and served on many other health group’s boards.

His work establishing AIDES was recognised with the awarding of France’s Highest civilian award Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur.