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Author: Jane, lgbtq+ blogger
I’ve always found it strange how history lessons manage to skip over so many incredible queer people. Growing up in Australia, I learned about explorers, politicians, and war heroes—but rarely about the LGBTQ+ activists, artists, and everyday people who fought for the rights I now benefit from. It wasn’t until I started digging on my own that I discovered just how many brave souls came before us, often at great personal cost.
These trailblazers didn’t just pave the way—they bulldozed through barriers, faced violence and ostracism, and refused to stay silent when the world demanded they hide. Some are household names, while others have been largely forgotten. But all of them contributed to the world we live in today, where I can write this article openly and where love is (mostly) celebrated rather than criminalised.
Let me share some of their stories.
The Pioneers Who Started the Conversation
Before we had Pride marches and rainbow flags, there were people quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo.
Take Oscar Wilde, for instance. Yes, the famous Irish playwright and poet who spent time in Australia during his worldwide tour. While his trial and imprisonment for “gross indecency” in 1895 was tragic, his refusal to completely hide his sexuality—even when it was incredibly dangerous—made him an early symbol of queer resistance. His wit, brilliance, and eventual martyrdom showed that LGBTQ+ people existed, had always existed, and weren’t going anywhere.
Closer to home, we have figures like Shirley Smith (Mum Shirl), an Aboriginal activist and “mother” to many in Sydney’s Indigenous community. While not exclusively an LGBTQ+ activist, she championed the rights of marginalized people and created safe spaces for Sistergirls and Brotherboys—Indigenous trans and gender-diverse people whose identities have existed in First Nations cultures for thousands of years before colonization.
Then there’s Roberta Perkins, an Australian trans woman and sex worker who became a fierce advocate for trans rights in the 1970s and beyond. She fought for legal recognition, conducted groundbreaking research on trans experiences, and refused to be silenced by a society that wanted people like her to remain invisible. Her work laid crucial groundwork for the rights trans Australians have today.
The Activists Who Changed Laws
Some of the most important trailblazers are the ones who took the fight to the courts and the streets, demanding legal equality when it seemed impossible.
Wendy Walker is a name every Australian should know. In 1984, she organized the first Lesbian and Gay Mardi Gras Ball in Sydney, and she spent decades fighting for LGBTQ+ rights at a time when homosexuality was still illegal in most Australian states. She was arrested multiple times during peaceful protests, but she never stopped pushing. The Sydney Mardi Gras we know today—one of the world’s largest Pride celebrations—exists because of her determination.
I still get chills thinking about the First Mardi Gras in 1978. What started as a peaceful protest inspired by the Stonewall riots turned violent when police attacked the marchers. Seventy-eight people were arrested, their names published in newspapers, leading to job losses and public humiliation. But those brave souls—including activists like Peter de Waal and Lance Gowland—stood their ground. They laid the foundation for everything that followed.
Rodney Croome is another Australian hero. He led Tasmania’s campaign to decriminalize homosexuality, which finally succeeded in 1997—making Tasmania the last Australian state to do so. Can you believe it was still illegal to be gay in parts of Australia less than 30 years ago? Rodney’s tireless advocacy, including taking Tasmania to the United Nations, showed that persistence and principle can overcome even the most entrenched discrimination.
And we can’t forget Kerryn Phelps and Jackie Stricker, who were one of the first same-sex couples to register their relationship in New South Wales in 2010. Kerryn, a doctor and politician, used her platform to advocate for marriage equality long before it was popular or politically safe to do so.
The Artists Who Changed Hearts and Minds
Sometimes the most powerful activism happens through art—through music, film, writing, and performance that helps people see humanity where they once saw “other.”
Peter Allen was Australia’s first openly gay entertainer to achieve international stardom. His flamboyance, talent, and refusal to hide who he was helped normalise queer visibility in the entertainment industry. When he died from AIDS-related illness in 1992, his legacy reminded us of the devastating toll of the epidemic and the importance of living authentically.
Speaking of the AIDS crisis—that dark period in the 1980s and 90s that devastated the LGBTQ+ community worldwide—Australia had its own heroes. Organisations like the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (named after one of the first Australians to die from AIDS) and activists like Lex Watson and David Menadue fought not just for treatment and awareness, but for dignity. They cared for the sick when others turned away, challenged government inaction, and ensured that those who died weren’t forgotten.
Carlotta, the legendary Australian entertainer and trans icon, broke barriers simply by being herself—unapologetically, glamorously, publicly. She’s been a household name since the 1960s, and her visibility helped countless Australians understand that trans people aren’t a new phenomenon or a threat—we’re artists, entertainers, neighbours, and friends.
More recently, Courtney Act has used her platform—from Australian Idol to RuPaul’s Drag Race to Celebrity Big Brother—to educate, entertain, and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Her ability to connect with mainstream audiences has helped shift conversations around gender fluidity and queer acceptance.
The Everyday Heroes We Don’t Always Hear About
Here’s something I think about a lot: for every famous activist or celebrity, there were thousands of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. The teachers who quietly supported queer students. The parents who chose love over prejudice. The doctors and nurses who treated AIDS patients with compassion. The pub owners who created safe spaces when bars could be raided at any moment.
These people rarely made headlines, but they were just as crucial to the movement. They’re the reason isolated queer kids in regional Australia had someone to turn to. They’re the reason support groups exist. They’re the reason survival was possible during the darkest times.
Indigenous LGBTQ+ elders, in particular, have done incredible work keeping culture alive and creating space for Sistergirls, Brotherboys, and other gender-diverse community members. Their leadership often goes unrecognised in mainstream narratives, but it’s been vital to ensuring that Indigenous queer people have cultural connection and community support.
The Battles Still Being Fought
While we celebrate these trailblazers, it’s important to acknowledge that their work isn’t finished. We achieved marriage equality in Australia in 2017—a massive victory that came through the tireless work of activists like Anna Brown, Shelley Argent (founder of PFLAG Australia), and countless others. But equality in marriage law doesn’t mean equality in all aspects of life.
Trans and gender-diverse Australians still face significant barriers to healthcare, legal recognition, and basic dignity. Conversion practices—those harmful attempts to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity—are still legal in some states. LGBTQ+ youth experience higher rates of homelessness, mental health challenges, and suicide. Queer elders, especially those who lived through the worst of discrimination, often lack appropriate aged care services.
The trailblazers of today are fighting these battles. People like Sally Rugg, who led the marriage equality campaign. Jeremy Wiggins, advocating for LGBTQ+ health equity. Dani Wright Toussaint, working with trans and gender-diverse communities. They’re standing on the shoulders of giants, continuing the work that started decades ago.
Why These Stories Matter
I sometimes wonder what my life would look like if not for these pioneers. Would I be able to live openly? Would I have the legal protections I now take for granted? Would I even be alive?
The truth is, every right I enjoy came at a cost someone else paid. Every moment of acceptance I experience is built on the courage of people who faced rejection, violence, and isolation. They didn’t do it because it was easy or because they knew they’d succeed. They did it because they had no choice—because silence and invisibility were their own forms of death.
Learning about these icons and trailblazers isn’t just about honouring the past. It’s about understanding how change happens—slowly, painfully, through the accumulated efforts of individuals who refuse to give up. It’s about recognising that our liberation is connected, that we owe our freedom to those who came before, and that we have a responsibility to keep pushing for those who come after.
Looking Forward
Australia has come a long way, but we’re not done. The work of honouring our trailblazers means continuing their legacy—standing up for those still fighting for basic rights, amplifying marginalised voices within our community, and refusing to let progress slip backward.
I think about the young queer kids growing up in regional Queensland or Tasmania or Western Australia. I hope they learn about these icons in school. I hope they understand that they’re part of a long, proud history of resilience and resistance. I hope they feel inspired to add their own chapter to this ongoing story.
Because that’s what these trailblazers really gave us—not just rights or visibility, but hope. Hope that change is possible. Hope that courage matters. Hope that love, eventually, wins.
To everyone who came before us: thank you. We see you. We remember you. And we’ll make sure your work wasn’t in vain.
