KYLIE GILLIES

Popular Channel Seven TV presenter Kylie Gillies began her television career as a reporter, producer and newsreader in Tamworth for Prime Television, becoming the face of northern New South Wales. Prior to her current role on the popular national The Morning Show, Kylie's most recognised role at Seven was on Sportsworld as the sports news presenter and a reporter for Seven's Australian Open coverage. She's sung live on national television with Irish crooner Ronan Keating, and this year finished in third place in Channel Seven's Dancing with the Stars. Kylie is a proud parent and advocate of equality for all children and their families.

Why are you representing this same-sex law reform campaign?

These 85 law reforms are fantastic, but they're only fantastic if people know about them. I think it's really important that people educate themselves about what they mean and how they can make a difference in your life. We should celebrate the reforms.

Why should people wear these 85 law reforms with pride?

Essentially, this is a human rights issue. This is about equality. And what we've taken here is a huge step forward. Education is important and we need to activate the community. But it's important to also celebrate, because reforms like this are hard won.

Have you or anyone you know experienced same-sex discrimination?

I have family and I have colleagues and very close friends whose lives will benefit from these reforms. So I wanted to take part in this campaign because it means so much to me and to them. It was the least I could do.

How do you think these reforms will make a difference to same-sex couples?

But the fact that we had to have 85 reforms shows how badly they were needed. Everything from insurance, superannuation, parenting rights, things that I never have to think twice about, but yet my homosexual friends had to and were discriminated against and that ain't fair. These 85 reforms are marvelous and long overdue. We should celebrate it and get our heads around it. Get on to the website and learn about it. And you don't want to be living with blinkers on about the rights that can make such a difference in your life.

Do you think these reforms are a huge step forward for Australia?

What it's doing is putting same-sex couples on an even playing field with straight couples - it's a basic right. Really when you think about it, there's shouldn't be any question, there shouldn't be any differences; there shouldn't be a demarcation or a line in the sand.

What do you like about your T-Shirt design?

I love my t-shirt! Charlie Brown designed my t-shirt and my t-shirt is about law reform number 25. She's put in two eyes, and the eyes represent an animal watching over her children. It's about parenting and the fact now both same-sex parents have equal rights. For example, if a child was sick at school, legally only the birth parent could come and pick them up. A same-sex couple didn't have such a basic right as that? I'm a mum myself, and when I found out about how discriminatory that law was to same-sex parents that they didn't have such a basic right? Well I think we should celebrate that change. And so Charlie's done a great job, you know- the mother lion, looking out for her cubs.

Back to top