I felt a responsibility to come out so others could do the same: Tim Wilson
Image: Human rights commissioner Tim Wilson speaking at the Melbourne launch of Out For Australia. (Photo: Matto Lucas)
HUMAN rights commissioner Tim Wilson said he feels a personal responsibility to be out as a gay man because when he was younger and struggling with his own sexuality there weren’t out role models for him to look up to.
Wilson said that while he came out relatively young, his “public” coming out was on national television.
“I had a strange coming out, because technically I came out on an episode of Q&A in 2008, debating Penny Wong about her position on marriage, and how she thought it should be defined as between a man and a woman,” he said.
“She’s changed her view on that, you might know.”
Wilson made the comments on Tuesday at the Melbourne launch of LGBTI professional mentoring organisation Out for Australia, in a discussion about how coming out can impact an LGBTI-friendly workplace culture.
Alongside Victorian upper house Labor MP Harriet Shing, Wilson was one of a number of panellists speaking on the subject of LGBTI-inclusion in the workplace.
“I’ve always had this very strong view, which is a very strong sense of personal responsibility [based on] what I would call torment that I went through throughout my teenage years over issues of sexual orientation, my place in the world and whether I’d be able to achieve my full potential,” Wilson said.
“Much of it came down to issues of visibility, and the absence of role models.”
The first out woman in Victorian parliament, Shing said that for her, coming out can be a day-to-day process, and one she has found challenging in some situations.
“I come out multiple times all the time… for me it’s been a very difficult weighing-up process that comes down to the individual circumstances at play on any given day, based on how I’m feeling about having the conversation,” she said.
“I’m going to be completely honest, I find it really hard sometimes to make that call.”
The event was completely packed, with many attendees standing to attend the panel discussion.
Out for Australia’s Charles Sunstrom said the organisation had been successful in attracting a large number of students and potential mentees — over half the attendees — as well as prospective mentors from professional sectors.
Sunstrom said as well as expanding to Victoria after a successful launch in Sydney, the organisation was beginning to look outside the finance and legal sectors, where most of the previous participants in the mentorship program had come from.
“I did a science degree, a lot of my friends are medics, so what we’re actually trying to do now is roll it out to different industries, not just finance and law, which was the initial push,” he told the Star Observer.
“What we’re doing now is getting away from the business and law angle, and we’re moving to ‘professionals’ broadly, however that wants to be defined. We like the ambiguity of that word because it’s anyone, and it’s for people to self-select.”
Visit the Out for Australia website for more information about becoming a professional mentor or student mentee.
[Photo: Matto Lucas (website)]
Tim Wilson is a total wanker!
Wow, if nothing more, he’s certainly got everyone talking judging by the number of comments! Wilson is a hypocrite on several fronts,
He IS opposed to same sex marriage, I’ve heard him state this. Now as human rights commissioner, this should disqualify him from that role to start with.
He sides with a party and political process that , at best, belittles and shuns the queer community generally and resists same sex marriage to the death .
He’s gay, for fucks sake! And yet he wants to deny other gay people the right to marry… This creep is the wolf in sheeps clothing.
Nothing praiseworthy here. Yet given the numbers of homophobes in Labors ranks who want to deny ss marriage as well, maybe we’re better off with Wilson et al
No doubt about it – some of you leftie poofters really do have the handle on intolerant bile. I don’t always agree with Tim Wilson but at least he brings a perspective to an argument that makes people including those who are constantly against us, re look at things. It is ironic that he gets accused of being so right wing yet the truth is he often gets hammered because he is too nearer the centre and at least he doesn’t make me cringe with embarrassment like plenty of the unkempt numbers that claim to represent us/me when they come up on telly. There’s nothing wrong with diversity even within our own groups- but its pretty clear that many of our own number have neither the wit nor wisdom to appreciate theirs isn’t the only view.
i also saw the Kardashians visit Armenia and exploit their roots for publicity..
Both Tim and Kim haven’t worked a day in their lives although Tim doesn’t have the wealth or crass fashion sense that they have thank goodness and he’s Australian and not American.
one virtue they have in common is a thing called narcissism
nice try Timmy but you’re going to have to convince the wider community that you’re not a wanker as your people have left you a long time ago..
best of luck $$$
hugs xxx
I can’t believe the sense of selt_entitlement young Australians have today
I suppose twenty years of economic growth does that to you doesn’t it?
Gay individuals should not be excluded from CONSTRUCTIVE criticism at all
CHEERS
Hmmmmmm
Exploiting ones gay status and interestingly now your Armenian roots Tim for publicity whilst wanting to screw ethnic groups with Hate Laws and this nasty Freedom of Speech manifesto….Wow just Wow!
You’re no Kim Kardashian but you’re kind of close with your weird Liberatarian values
Selfish, shallow and a little greedy
I would ignore Tim just like Obama ignores Kim Kardashians call to recognize The Armenian genocide…
You’re hilarious and have a cute arse.
Hugs for Freedom darling xxxx
His sexuality is not important, but his narrow minded political views are abhorrent and should be condemned.
Of course his sexuality is important. ..what a ridiculous thing to say.
I would want to know if he’s a decent man especially if he’s visited school groups and he discusses Aids and other gay issues especially ICE.
In this era of Freedom and as he’s a public servant now…he’s bound to the protocols of the public service
What a tosser. Thats one of the reasons lots of people come out, but they’re no so full of themselves as to make something of it.
His Freedom shenanigans at Joy Fm were hilarious as well
Tim…I profusely disagree
You’re not doing well especially with The Islamic Community in Melbourne and still have kids in detention who are going through hell!
They’re under extreme stress and have had a gutful of Tony Abbotts nasty dog whistling and stupid rhetoric
No one cares about Freedom and this silly mantra…it’s Freedom Fries bullshit for the ignorant citizen.
People want kids out of detention who are going through absolute Hell.
That’s your role ir is it?
Who cares about privileged gays when you only engage in shock jock radio and that’s it.
Take a very good hard look at yourself please Tim
You can do much much better as a smart Melburnian.
You are doing well, Tim, in this role..,, just wish I could understand your politics-:)
Timmy,
Please stay in Sydney and celebrate your diversity there!
I don’t want another Sydney siege in Melbourne with your disgusting Freedom agenda and neo-liberal racist politics that’s divisive and dangerous
You’re the problem not the solution.
You tried to capitalize on The Sydney siege with your Free market fanatical manifesto
Tacky and opportunistic just like this gig
Yes we remember Penny Wong’s babbling on and on. Typical Labour party. They say they care about everyone but really they only care about themselves. At least the Libs don’t pretend to care.
Judgmental idiots eh….?
I loooooove it when he uses his partner Ryan for his propaganda as well
Looks like Vanilla Ices little brother, gorgeous!!
Cutie….you chose well Timmmy!
Woof! Woof!!
Tim can only redeem himself if he has the guidance of someone like Malcolm Turnball
Looking at the recent cover of G.Q. I hope there is a change coming….
This is about his gay identity and not politics.
My relative was at this event and he was amused to see Tim going over the top with his bashing of the A.B.C…..
What’s that got to do with being a good gay mentor??
The audience consisted of very well educated grandchildren of migrants who studied Law and are pretty smart kids
It’s their opinion that counts as future leaders who live in the most liveable city in the world
Liberals in Melbourne are very different to those in other states
Nevertheless it was a fun and great night!