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.

Michael Kirby

Former High Court Justice

He may have been forced to retire from the bench of the High Court of Australia this year when he reached his 70th birthday, but the Honorable Michael Kirby has not lost any of his influence.

If anything, the removal of restrictions surrounding his previous position has meant Kirby’s name popped up even more in 2009. Joining Greens leader Bob Brown as the only member of the Same Same 25 to appear in all three years that it has been running, Kirby’s influence is still indisputable. “I would have thought that I’d be put out to a decent retirement by now and some other young and beautiful people can get on the list,” he says. “If you look at the other people on the list, they’re great people, highly professional people, people who are in entertainment, people who’ve been out recently and people who are now taking a step, and people who have been there for donkey’s years. It’s a great list and I am proud to be there with them.”

Kirby is settling into his new role as an ex-High Court Judge and is relishing using his influence as a public speaker, mediator, advisor, confidante and more. He is also full of hope for the future. “Our country has a chance to be a real model for the world and this is just one battle,” he says. “It’s almost won, a few more shoves and it’ll all be over, and all that horrible nastiness we hope will pass away.”