Politics

Watch A Greens MP Tear Up About His Sexuality In Opening Speech To Parliament

"I spent years hiding myself because I could not see anyone in my world who was openly gay."

by Lavender Baj  28 July 2022
stephen bates

Want more Junkee in your life? Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook so you always know where to find us.

Newly elected Greens MP Stephen Bates has delivered an emotional first speech to parliament, in which he broke down in tears.

Bates, the newly elected member for Brisbane, is one of 35 new Senators and MPs who will give their first speeches to Parliament in the coming weeks and months. He chose to use his opening speech to talk about “two pivotal moments that shaped who I am and my politics”: minimum wage and his sexuality.

Speaking on his sexuality in particular, Bates teared up, admitting that he “did everything in my power to hide it” once he realised he was gay as a young teenager. Despite knowing he was gay, Bates tried to force a conventional heterosexual relationship on himself.

“I told myself I would force myself to get married – to a woman – have kids and live in the suburbs. Because that is what you did – that is what you had to do,” said Bates.

However, he got particularly emotional when talking about his story of coming out — which prompted him to tear up and need a minute to compose himself.

“I was lucky enough to have a very supportive …” said Bates through tears. “To have a very supportive family to come out to. But I spent years hiding myself because I could not see anyone in my world who was openly gay.”

He added that “this is harder than I thought it would be” but continued his speech to explain that he would always be open and proud to be a gay man in a public role. You know, because if you can’t see it, you can’t be it.

“Once I came out (I said) that if I ever found myself in a public role, that I was going to be open and proud of who I am and that I would be that person that I never saw growing up,” said Bates. “Because if I can help even one person out there, then my life will have been worth it.”

Throughout his speech, Bates also wore a rainbow-winged ibis pin on his lapel, to represent not only pride, but also Brisbane’s beloved bin chickens. Iconic stuff, really.