‘I鈥檝e had an opportunity to have a new life in my 40s’
Image: Christine Forster (left) is a Liberal councillor for City of Sydney and the lesbian sister of Prime Minister Tony Abbott (right), who opposes marriage equality.
锟硷考锟硷考锟硷考锟糃HRISTINE Forster鈥檚 coming out story – while not breaking news for those who follow Australian politics 鈥� grabbed national headlines and was embroiled in controversy.
In 2012, Forster was a mother of four who hailed from Sydney鈥檚 North Shore.
She was living in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Surry Hills with her partner Virginia, with whom she had begun a relationship a few years earlier while still married to her husband.
Forster came out to her family when she was in her early 40s and despite some tough times to get to that point, she was finally able to be her 鈥渢rue self鈥�.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a roller coaster… it鈥檚 not been easy,鈥� she reflects.
鈥淚鈥檝e had an opportunity to have a new life in my 40s. That is the real me, yes it鈥檚 difficult, yes it鈥檚 challenging, but it鈥檚 very fulfilling.鈥�
Everything was going along as well as could be expected until an article published in The Australian turned her life on its head and thrust Forster, Virginia and their families into the national spotlight.
There had been whispers around the political halls of Canberra that the then- Federal Liberal party leader Tony Abbott, who had been very public about his opposition to marriage equality, had a lesbian family member.
Abbott went on to become Prime Minister of Australia and before being ousted by Malcolm Turnbull last year, committed Australians to a plebiscite on the issue.
For the sake of her children and despite wanting to seek public office for herself, Forster was never 鈥榦ut鈥� beyond her family. But her national outing would go on to have a silver lining and give her the opportunity to fulfil a life-long dream.
鈥淚 came out to various members of my family one on one. I came out to my brother Tony first,鈥� she explains.
鈥淚 was then publicly outed, which was not a terribly pleasant process. It was something that we were expecting to happen.
“And it did happen and the upside for me was that it allowed me to pursue a public life politically, which I had been intending to do.
“But I had stayed away from it (until then) on the basis that I was a private person.鈥�
It鈥檚 been almost four years since Forster was elected as a councillor in the City of Sydney and she is adamant that she never discussed with her brother the impact her outing might have on his career.
鈥淲e had many conversations about what it all meant for me personally, for my children and for the people in my family,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here was never a discussion of 鈥榠s this a strategic issue鈥� for anyone.
鈥淭he conversation was how to best manage things for the people I love. Nothing in terms of his career or anyone else鈥檚 career. In terms of being thrust into the spotlight… it kind of enabled me to take that step. Once it had come out, I was able to pursue public life.
鈥淎t the end of the day it was a good thing.鈥�
Forster did not face any homophobia when she came out to her family, but the difficulties the family faced after she came
鈥淭here are many, many, many, many things I would do very differently, but sadly you don鈥檛 get your time over again,鈥� she reflects
鈥淚 take the view there鈥檚 not a lot of point dwelling on that stuff I fucked up along the way because sadly I can鈥檛 change it now. I would鈥檝e dealt with it differently if I knew now what I knew then but I don鈥檛 have benefit of turning back the clock.鈥�
When asked if she has any advice for people thinking about coming out, Forster says she has none because it鈥檚 an individual journey.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 like to give advice to people on this. At the end of the day I think there鈥檚 so much in people living honestly and living as who they are,鈥� she explains.
鈥淚f you have to come out or leave a relationship – as terrible as that is – we all have to live authentically.鈥�
Forster has been a vocal supporter of marriage equality and a very vocal opponent of a plebiscite, but believes if it comes to a public vote, Australia will vote in favour of same-sex marriage.
And when that day comes she plans to walk down the aisle with Virginia, her partner of more than eight years.
鈥淚t will probably on the big and lavish side (the wedding),鈥� she says.
鈥淲e鈥檝e already booked Bob Downe to perform. But it鈥檒l be a massive celebration of us and our wonderful relationship.鈥�
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