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.

Tim Campbell

Actor and performer

You’ve probably seen Tim on an Aussie soap, or a game show… maybe in a musical or two.

“I don't set out to be influential, but due to the media attention around my job, I can understand that I may be,” says Campbell. “It feels fantastic to know that someone feels more empowered from me. My job is to entertain, but parts of my personal life, especially having Anthony Callea as my partner, have become public knowledge. I hope that my conduct – mostly - is influential to some degree, but I ain’t Jesus.”

Campbell is best known for playing Dan Baker on Seven's ‘Home & Away’, but he’s also appeared in ‘Wildside’ and ‘Police Rescue’ on ABC, ‘White Collar Blue’ on Ten, Seven’s ‘Always Greener’, and ‘McLeods Daughters’ and Water Rats on Nine. In 2007 he competed on ‘Dancing With The Stars’, coming third in the series, and hosted Seven's 2007 game show series ‘National Bingo Night’.

On stage he’s appeared as Roger in ‘Rent’ in Western Australia, then moved to Melbourne to take the lead role of Johnny O'Keefe in the 2008 season of ‘Shout!’. In 2008 Tim hosted ‘The (Million Dollar) Wheel of Fortune’ followed by ‘Celebrity Singing Bee’. He will also make a return to TV drama with roles in ‘Sea Patrol’ for Channel Nine and ‘Dead Normal’ for the ABC, to be screened early 2010.

In 2008 Callea and Campbell sung a duet on ‘Carols By Candlelight’, and it was televised around the country – the first time an openly gay couple have sung together at such an event.

“If through media and the like, people can see a gay person having some sort of success without limitations due to sexuality, then yes it's a great thing - but each to their own. People should be influenced from all parts of life. Both Anth and I have had letters from gay people and often parents thanking us for doing what we do. Really we don't do anything but live our personal and professional lives how we choose to, but if that helps gay people in our community, then bring it on!”

While Campbell is supportive of those gay people who have campaigned for equality, he’s also quick to distance himself from terms like ‘gay community’.

“To me the term has a slight feeling of segregation. I consider myself a member of the whole community. I live in the suburbs with my male partner, which I know isn't a common household set up, but god, what is common now? I know people will have arguments against this, but although I'm not the most political person and I don't feel comfortable using my public profile away from my profession, I do believe my contribution to acceptance and tolerance is indirectly showing how "normal" Anth and I are.”

Campbell came out when he was 20 and describes the experience as ‘positive’.

“Of course we all build up the worst reactions in our heads because it is the unknown, but I couldn't have asked for better support from family and friends. Most people were shocked, as I was a sportsman at school primarily! Even Anthony was surprised after we had met a few times! It wasn't until 2 years ago that the media picked up on it, although the ‘quality’ journalists had known for years and I had spoken openly with them, but it was never an issue.”