PFLAG mourns Phipps’s death

Keith Phipps, the president of PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), died on Monday at St Joseph’s Hospital, Auburn.
His PFLAG friends have described him as a “true champion of the GLBT community and their families”.
Phipps became president of PFLAG, a support and action group representing the parents and friends of lesbians and gays, about three years ago, following a five-year stint as vice-president.
His friend and colleague Ray Brown said Phipps was a passionate advocate of human rights, who was involved in “anything he could be”.
“He was very intelligent, extremely outgoing and a great comfort to everybody,” Brown said.
“He would attend GLBT meetings all over the place and was always helping people. He was a very kind and understanding man.”
Phipps featured in the PFLAG documentary Bouncing Castle, which was aired by Queer Screen in 2004.
He was diagnosed with a brain tumour earlier this year.
PFLAG members have extended their deepest sympathy to his wife Narelle, daughter Katherine and son Neil.
Rudy Van der Hart, who took over when Phipps became ill, will remain as acting president.