New Liberal MP Joe McCracken comes out as gay during maiden speech

A Liberal MP has been applauded for sharing an insight into his personal life in what’s been described as a parliamentary first for a maiden speech.

MP Joe McCracken has come out as gay during his maiden speech. Picture: Hollie Adams

A new MP has used his first speech to come out as gay, in what has been applauded as a parliamentary first.

Upper House Liberal MP for Western Victoria Joe McCracken ended his maiden speech by revealing his partner was a man, saying not many people knew.

“It’s taken me a long time to come to terms with this. I’ve experienced shame, anxiety and many other things,” he said.

“I’ve never really talked about it much or made an issue of it, because I never wanted to be defined by it.

“I hate identity politics, and I will fight against that whenever I can.”

Mr McCracken said he struggled with the concept of defining a person by one aspect of who they were.

“A person is made up of many large and diverse sets of characteristics: age, gender, sexuality, race, religion, occupation,” he said.

“Why do we need to take one of those characteristics, amplify it and define a person in that way?

“The simple answer is we don’t. We shouldn’t. I think LGBT activists in Victoria need to carefully consider their public perception.

“Many, including myself, have difficulty being associated with the movement.

“Most people in the LGBT community just want to get on with living their lives.

“Gay people do not need to be treated any differently to anyone else: no separate doctors, no separate radio stations, no festivals, and no separate flags.”

Mr McCracken said he questioned the need for a separate flag to identify the LGBT community.

“The only flags I’ll be saluting are the Australian flag and the Victorian flag,” he said.

“They are the only flags that do not discriminate on the people they represent.