17c起草社区

As a part of 17c起草社区’s series ahead of the 2025 federal election, we’re profiling the candidates running in the electorate of Brisbane.

With the federal election looming, the ballot in Brisbane聽is brimming with candidates vying for your vote but whose policies actually reflect the needs of our 17c起草社区IA+ communities?

From grassroots advocates to seasoned political veterans, this year鈥檚 candidates include Stephen Bates (Greens), Trevor Evans (Liberal), Rachael Blackwood (Fusion), Madonna Jarrett (Labor), Dr. Kirsten Sands (Family First), Cheryl Wood (One Nation), Brian William Thiele (Trumpet of Patriots) and Joseph Wheeler (People First).

Stephen Bates – Greens for Brisbane

鈥淚 grew up gay in a small town in Central Queensland. It wasn鈥檛 until I moved to Brisbane that I finally felt safe enough to live my truth,鈥� says Stephen Bates, Greens MP for Brisbane and proud renter in the CBD with his partner.

Since becoming the youngest member of the House of Representatives, and one of only a few openly queer MPs, Bates has made it his mission to amplify 17c起草社区IA+ voices in Parliament.

鈥淚鈥檝e stood by my community every vote, every time,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 fought to have us counted in the Census. I鈥檝e delivered hundreds of thousands in funding to local queer orgs like Open Doors, PFLAG, and Goose Goose Ganda.鈥�

Bates has a bold plan to make gender-affirming healthcare free under Medicare, and personally secured $300,000 for Queensland鈥檚 first community-led trans youth clinic.

He鈥檚 also calling for an 17c起草社区IA+ Human Rights Commissioner, and stronger anti-discrimination laws that remove religious loopholes that currently let queer people be fired 鈥渏ust for being who we are.鈥�

As for trans rights and protecting local 17c起草社区IA+ events? 鈥淭hey鈥檙e human rights. Full stop. I鈥檒l fight the puberty blocker ban and every pointless imported culture war Dutton throws at us.鈥�

For Bates, Brisbane is home 鈥� and protecting its queer community is personal. 鈥淚 know what it means when governments choose corporate profits over people鈥檚 wellbeing because I have lived it myself.

鈥淚 want to be part of building a future where each of us has access to the healthcare, education and housing we need to live a good and dignified life.鈥�

Trevor Evans – Liberal

 

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鈥淚鈥檝e always said 鈥� don鈥檛 just judge me on my promises, but on my record鈥� says Trevor Evans, former MP for Brisbane and the Liberal Party鈥檚 first openly gay federal representative.

As a long-time Windsor local living with his husband Roger, Evans fought hard for marriage equality and was a key voice in pushing PrEP onto the PBS, a move that changed HIV prevention in Australia. 鈥淭hat was personal,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 wanted better outcomes for my community.鈥�

Evans also points to his success in securing federal funding to Open Doors, one of Brisbane鈥檚 key support hubs for trans and gender-diverse youth. 鈥淚 was the first MP from any party to do that, and I鈥檒l continue to work with groups like this to improve services and outcomes鈥�.

While Evans doesn鈥檛 shy away from critiquing the current government鈥檚 record on Medicare and cost of living, he鈥檚 clear about protecting queer spaces.

鈥淚 recently spoke at a Pride Business Network forum, and I鈥檝e always been a visible supporter of queer events like the annual Pride March. A few years ago, when a Drag Story Time event was crashed by protestors, I called it out 鈥� and I鈥檇 do it again.鈥�

He supports stronger anti-discrimination protections, and says he鈥檚 frustrated that 2022鈥檚 legislation to protect queer students failed. 鈥淭his is a real shame, and something I鈥檇 fight for again.鈥�

Evans pragmatically believes Brisbane鈥檚 queer community already leads 鈥� but needs support to thrive. 鈥淲hile most Australians feel that the country is headed in the wrong direction at the moment, I鈥檒l always be optimistic about our future in Brisbane,鈥� he says.

Rachael Blackwood – Fusion

鈥淚鈥檓 not a career politician. I rent. I鈥檓 queer. I鈥檓 a victim-survivor of FDSV. I鈥檝e been discriminated against because of my gender and sexuality, I live what I fight for,鈥� says Rachael Blackwood, candidate for Fusion in Brisbane.

Running under the minor-party banner might seem like the underdog move, but for Blackwood, it鈥檚 intentional. 鈥淚 joined Fusion because they are guided by integrity, evidence and compassion, just like I am.鈥�

Blackwood鈥檚 17c起草社区IA+ platform is built around intersectional justice. She strongly wants trauma-informed responses to family and domestic violence, inclusive housing, and welfare that actually works. 鈥淭rans and non-binary people face higher rates of poverty, violence and discrimination鈥攁nd I鈥檓 pushing for stronger support.鈥�

鈥淚 also support replacing police with trained responders for welfare checks and FDSV calls, to better protect vulnerable queer people,鈥� adds Blackwood

She鈥檚 openly opposed Queensland鈥檚 ban on puberty blockers. 鈥滻t鈥檚 a disappointment and a step backwards.鈥� She supports an informed consent model, provider training, and barrier-free access to gender-affirming care. 鈥淭his is essential healthcare. No one should be denied it.鈥�

On queer community events like Drag Story Time, she鈥檚 defiant. “They are not an agenda to undermine 鈥渢raditional values鈥�, they promote diversity, connection, and representation. I鈥檒l work with councils to ensure these events are safe and push back against attempts to suppress queer visibility.鈥�

As for anti-discrimination reform, Blackwood says, 鈥淓veryone deserves equal protection under the law. The current laws have broad religious exemptions that cause harm. We need to close those loopholes.鈥�

Her message to voters is loud and clear: 鈥淰ote based on your values, not tradition. Elect people who care, listen, and act with integrity.鈥�

For more information on the 2025 federal election, your electorate, or to check your voting information is up to date, head to .

Madonna Jarrett (Labor), Cheryl Wood (One Nation) and Brian William Thiele (Trumpet of Patriots) did not respond to requests for comment by time of publishing. Joseph Wheeler (People First) was unavailable for comment due to family commitments. Dr. Kirsten Sands (Family First) declined to take part in this story.