About The Same Same 25 The Same Same 25 is an annual celebration of the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians. They are publicly nominated, and chosen by a panel of community leaders. For the past two years, the announcement of the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians has attracted widespread national media attention and focused on the achievements and influence of a varied and inspirational group of people. View the Same Same 25 for 2008 here. View the Same Same 25 for 2007 here. About Same Same
The Judges - The Same Same 25 judges are drawn from a wide cross-section of the community, representing a broad field of influence and experience in their chosen professions. Andrew Creagh (Editor, DNA Magazine), Cec Busby (Editor, LOTL Magazine), Rachel Cook (Editor, Cherrie Magazine), Christian Taylor (Editor, SameSame.com.au), David Wilkins (ACON), Kevin Golding (Business Analyst), Peter Walton (Publisher, Evolution), Libby Clark (Co-founder, Sound Alliance), Tim Duggan (Co-founder, SameSame.com.au)
The Process - The Same Same 25 is publicly nominated, and chosen by a panel of community leaders. Anyone in Australia can nominate someone for the Same Same 25.

Corey Irlam

Marriage equality activist

Corey Irlam says he isn’t about taking sides when it comes to politics, he works with all political parties to affect change for LGBTI rights.

“I’m a lobbyist in Canberra for the Australian Coalition for Equality,” says Irlam. “Basically I speak to people in government, politicians, about equal relationship recognition within gay, lesbian, bi and transgender communities.”

Most notable in Irlam’s work is his part in campaigning for and introducing changes to 85 discriminatory Federal laws. Currently working for ACON as their National Campaign Officer for same-sex law reform, Irlam says that while marriage is the word on everyone’s lips, as a community we have many other hurdles ahead of us.

“We also don’t have federal anti-discrimination laws. That’s something we’ve been fighting for for fifteen years and we still don’t have it. There’s a range of state laws that need to be addressed around adoption, around IVF in some states, and definitely surrogacy, and potentially even relationship recognition at a state level,” says Irlam of current and future battles.

Irlam makes special mention of those who campaigned for gay rights in the 70s, 80s, and 90s when asked about his role models, and says much of what he does happens with the help of many others.

“I can see that I am influential in the sense that I do talk to politicians, I speak out in the media, I provide commentary in the press, I write columns and people come to me and ask for my opinions on things. So in that way, I’m influential, sure,” he says.