Description

Rhonda Piggott’s book, also available as a free download, outlines the untold story decade by decade of the contributions of and challenges faced by LGBTIQ staff in Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. As she notes, the Australian foreign service had never banned homosexuals from serving. LGBTIQ staff had a different story to tell from colleagues, for example, in the United Kingdom, though there were similarities. Much has been written about the gay rights movement and the history of sexuality in its many forms. Little has been written, though, about how the resulting social changes and attitudinal shifts migrated to conservative organisations such as the Australian foreign service.

“Some may ask why bother writing a history of LGBTIQ people in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). I would reply that it is as good a story as any of an organisation succeeding or failing to make the best use of its people’s talents and to treat them fairly. It is a story that has high points and low, with dashes of courage, caution and cowardice.” –Bruce Miller AO