'I am young, I am gay, I am black': Trailblazing politician enters Aussie parliament

For the first time ever, Australia has an openly gay Indigenous politician.
Image: chansey paech/facebook

The first Aboriginal and openly gay politician in Australia entered state parliament yesterday, and his very first speech was a passionate statement of LGBTQ and Indigenous rights.

Chansey Paech, 28, was sworn in as a Northern Territory MP Wednesday, representing the seat of Namatjira. He was one of six Indigenous politicians sitting for the 13th Parliament, but his appointment was also a landmark first. 

As he said in his stirring maiden address, "I am young, I am gay, I am black. A true-blue Territorian."

"I am the nation's first openly gay, Indigenous parliamentarian," Paech said. "I am eternally proud of who I am and where I come from, I own it and wear it with pride."

The Arrernte and Gurindji man recently told BuzzFeed his opposing candidates tried to use his sexuality against him before the community headed to the polls. "That kind of language the electorate didn't respond well to …The most beautiful thing was when I was at a remote community [campaigning] and people said to me, 'They said you were a gay and we said we didn't care, we just want houses.'"

But Paech came out on top regardless of detractors, winning almost 60 percent of the vote in his electorate. 

Now that he's in power, the Labor MLA will be fighting for marriage equality, and the recognition of Indigenous people in the Australian constitution.

Beginning his speech by addressing the speaker in his traditional language, Paech said, "I stand here today humbled by the task before me, grateful for the trust the people of Namatjira has bestowed and mindful of the sacrifices made by our ancestors and elders … I dream that our people, the people from Namatjira will have the same opportunity as people living right across this land."

He continued: "I look forward to the day when this country will recognise my rights as equal rights, when I too can marry in my country, on my country, as a recognised First Australian."