A former adviser to two federal Greens senators, newly sworn-in Senator Robert Simms is no stranger to the halls of Parliament House, but his first week in the chamber hasn’t been free of nerves.
“It’s like the first day in any new job, but there are lots of people watching,” he told SBS.
Senator Simms has his work cut out for him with one of the party’s highest profile policy issues, taking on the LGBTI/marriage equality portfolio.
“I’ve been involved with [LGBTI] campaigns for a number of years. There are a whole range of issues that impact on the LGBTI community,” he said.
“At the top of that list is marriage equality. The community is looking at Parliament to get that done.”
Senator Simms, who replaces former South Australian Greens Senator Penny Wright, also identified homophobia and transphobia in schools, and LGBTI issues in aged care as areas he’d like to give priority within his portfolio.
A former Adelaide City councillor, as well as adviser to Greens senators Scott Ludlam and Sarah Hanson-Young, Senator Simms previously worked in the community sector as a policy advocate and on the boards of community organisations, including the AIDS Council of South Australia.
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In his maiden speech to the Senate today, he detailed his own coming out story, growing up in the suburbs of Adelaide.
“I stand here today as an out and proud gay man, but it certainly wasn’t always so. I remember I was around 12 when I realised I was gay, I was in my final year at primary school. It was a secret I carried for a long time – indeed I didn’t tell anyone until I was in my early twenties,” he said.
“I had no conception of what a gay life might look like and was scared for the future. I have to say, standing in the federal Senate talking about coming out wasn’t exactly what I envisaged for my future as a closeted teenager in suburban Adelaide.”
He said his own experience with sexuality was what underpins his support for the issue of marriage equality.
“I know when I was a young person that that reform would have made a big difference to me. It actually would have changed things quite a lot; a positive symbol that no matter who you are or who you love, all are equal before the law,” he said.
“The time has well and truly come for our nation to finally turn its back on the homophobia and discrimination of the past. This Parliament must get this job done.”
Senator Simms’ Lower House colleague, Adam Bandt, yesterday reaffirmed the Greens’ call for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to allow the federal Parliament to vote on same-sex marriage. He told the House of Representatives that Australia’s marriage laws continue to send the message to people who are same-sex attracted and in same-sex relationships that their love is “not equal”.
“Our homophobic marriage laws are part of a system that for years has told young people who are understanding their sexuality and identity that, if you’re not straight, you’re not equal. You’re different. You’re wrong. You’re less,” he said.
