Trent Zimmerman has become the first openly gay man elected to a seat in the Australian House of Representatives. On December 5 he won a by-election in the North Sydney constituency.
Zimmerman, a member of the governing center-right Liberal Party, has stated that he is very aware that his election was “historic.” Three openly LGBT officials currently serve in the Australian Senate.
The new MP has pledged to speak out on LGBTI issues, and will work with marriage equality advocacy organizations to ensure that the Australian public votes to legalize same-sex marriage in a proposed plebiscite on the issue.