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.

Julie McCrossin

MC and broadcaster

Julie is a well known for her work as a radio broadcaster, TV personality and a print journalist. She’s hosted TV coverage from both Mardi Gras and ANZAC Day parades and was also a regular on the ABC comedy series ‘Good News Week’. Three years ago she left ABC radio to pursue work as a public speaker and MC for conferences, panel discussions, meetings and seminars.

“I’m happy to be on a list of 25 influential gay and lesbian Australians who are happy to be out,” says Julie. “To me the main reason for having a list like this is to send a message out to people who are discovering their sexuality for the first time, to show them that lots of people from very diverse backgrounds and areas of work are totally comfortable with being out in public, because I think it’s still a big issue for a lot of people.”

According to Julie, coming out isn’t just one moment, but a series of choices that you make everyday for the rest of your life.

“I’ve had quite a big career on radio and television in the mainstream media, and because I’m happy to wear make up and put a few frocks on at times, people didn’t necessarily know that I was a lesbian the first time they’d see me or hear me, so I had to come out again and again and again.”

Julie says that one of the greatest things about being gay in Australia is that highly successful people, like Kerryn Phelps, Dorothy Porter or the Honourable Michael Kirby, are accepted on the whole by the mainstream. “I think we cracked more than we ever hoped to achieve. Of course there’s still prejudice, and the churches and faith communities are still a real area for ongoing struggle… but I believe change will come in my lifetime there as well. I don’t think that Cardinal Pell and Archbishop Jensen will lead opinion forever.”

Julie is especially proud of the fact that she has reported from both ANZAC Day and Mardi Gras parade for mainstream television and felt equally accepted doing both. “That is a symbol of what I always hoped for.”