Australia's first openly-gay High Court judge says he will retire in February, just before his 70th birthday. Retiring: Justice Michael Kirby A long-time LGBT equality activist, Justice Kirby's decision was influenced by the passing of a series of laws removing discrimination against same-sex couples, in areas of tax, social security, health, aged care and financial entitlements, reports The Age newspaper. Justice Kirby said in September that he wanted his partner of 40 years, Johan van Vloten, to be able to gain access to his pension entitlements if he happened to die first. He has been open about being gay since he came out in 1999 by naming his long-term partner in the book Who's Who in Australia.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 17th December 2008 - 2:46pm