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.

Louise Pratt

Senator for Western Australia

Louise has been a Labor member of the Australian Senate since July 2008, representing Western Australia. She was the youngest woman ever elected to the Legislative Council at the time of her election, the second openly lesbian woman to be elected to an Australian parliament, and the first to have a transgender partner.

“I am both surprised and delighted to be nominated,” says Pratt. “It is an honour to be recognised for the work that I do.” When it comes to her influence Pratt is quick to point out that getting political leverage on important issues takes hard work not only from her, but from a lot of other people, both in the gay community and in politics generally. “These people have shown a willingness to work strategically with me on issues that matter to our communities. Sometimes it takes years to build up influence on the issues that matter. That's just the way it has to be done and is how real influence is won.”

Pratt says that she hates being tagged as a “one issue” politician just because she’s out. “I speak out on a great many issues… I get quite frustrated that the media latches on to my sexuality in order to sell papers. On the other hand, I do recognise that it is important to be publicly visible, as I recall how important it has been to me to have out role models.”

Pratt says that she dislikes media intrusion into her personal life, but she and her partner Aram Hosie, have learned to live with it. “I have found that the best way to manage it has been to be open about who I am, while seeking to ensure that the media recognises that there is more to my politics, and more to GLBTI law reform, than my personal life.”

When asked about high and low points in her career, Louise says that there have been plenty of both.

“Every time I hear a conservative politician carry on in parliament about how a child should have both a mother and a father is a low point. I am dismayed at their lack of real family values… A real high point was the move from being a GLBTI activist to being an elected politician. I went from organising rallies outside parliament to creating new laws and voting for positive change on the very issues we had been campaigning for.”