Kellie lobbies for change

The new Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby co-convenor Kellie McDonald is “honoured” to take on the role and has set the clear objective to achieve adoption rights during her term.
McDonald has three years experience of working on the Lobby’s Committee during which time she has developed her understanding of lobbying tactics.
“Working with the Lobby, so many amazing people come through and I’ve always had a lot of respect for the co-convenors. When Ben [Keats, Lobby co-convenor] asked me whether I wanted to step up to that role I was deeply honoured, I guess, to be considered for that position, given the people who have been in there before,” she told Sydney Star Observer.
She is keen to continue the Lobby’s tradition of pursuing political change.
“It would be great if we could get the adoption reforms pushed through and I think that’s something that’s achievable during my time in the convenor position,” she said.
“We’re also launching the civil marriage campaign — that’ll obviously be a longer campaign, though it would be great to set the framework for that for lobbying further into the future.
“I think we will continue working in the same way we have in the past.
“It’s about establishing relationships with community organisations to work together to push for law reform, but also about meeting with politicians and establishing those relationships as well. I think it’s all that behind-the-scenes work that people often don’t realise the Lobby is so involved in — drafting submissions, those sorts of things. We’re not an overly activist sort of organisation.”