The Gay News Network have published their LGBTI people to watch in 2012 — MLA Andrew Barr from Canberra has made the list.

From politics and activism to fashion and the arts, we list the most talented, intriguing and promising Australians from the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities to watch in 2012.

ANDREW BARR : The openly-gay Labor politician who became a central figure in helping make history.

Anyone fed up with the state of politics in our nation’s capital need look no further than Andrew Barr to have their faith in politicians restored. The 38-year-old openly gay deputy Chief Minister of the ACT has had a huge 2011 on both a professional and personal level, culminating of course in the Australian Labor Party changing its position on gay marriage at the recent national conference.

“It was some time in the making – we have spent the last two years working on what’s been required to get a change,” he said.

“There’s been quite an effort behind the scenes by Rainbow Labor from all states and territories (and) we managed to get under the radar of a lot of Labor Party heavies.

“There’s a sense of achievement but it’s just one step along the road, now all Parliamentarians of all parties need to pull together.”

More a political gust of wind than a breath of fresh air, 2011 also saw Barr becoming Treasurer and deputy chief minister of the ACT.

“While the Chief Minister was away for a few weeks I became the first openly gay head of Government in Australia,” he laughed.

He is determined to achieve even more in 2012 – a year which will see him focus on homophobia in sport and in schools – as well as gay marriage.

“I’m the nation’s longest serving sports minister and I have put on the agenda the need to address homophobia in sport and will be undertaking work both in the ACT and on the national level regarding that” he said.

“Also the schools education system (regarding homophobia)... We are looking to 2012 as the year in which pilot programs move into a system-wide implementation.”

He has already sounded out Federal Sports Minister Mark Arbib who he said was supportive.

Barr, who entered into a civil union with his long-time partner in 2009 and, co-incidentally, is up for re-election in 2012, shrugs off talk of being a role model.

“I am who I am,” he said.

“I think it’s important in the gay and lesbian community that there are a variety of different role models, and people that demonstrate every field of endeavour is open to gay and lesbian Australians.  I’m hardly the first gay politician and I hope I’m not the last!”

See the full list at: http://gaynewsnetwork.com.au