Australia: NSW’s first out gay MP Paul O’Grady dies aged 54
The first out gay MP in New South Wales Paul O’Grady, has died aged 54.
Serving as a Labor MP between 1988 and 1996, Mr O’Grady came out as gay in 1990.
On retiring from the NSW Parliament, he began campaigning on issues surrounding HIV and AIDS, after publicly coming out as HIV positive in 1996.
Mr O’Grady was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and died in a hospice on Sunday.
He remained active in politics until recent years, and figures from all parties paid tributes to him this week.
