High-Profile Australian Lawyer Transitions While in Public Eye

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

August 15 2012 2:23 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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A well-known transgender Australian barrister, or attorney, recently made her first court appearance after finishing her transition.

Criminal lawyer Heather Stokes, based in Adelaide, made a name for herself representing big-name clients, including footballers. Stokes reportedly received support from her peers when she decided to transition. While Stokes transitioned relatively seemlessly, the fact that her transgender status made international headlines points to how foreign the concept is to most people.

"I think we're still at the point where a transgender person is the first to transition, say in their field," Sally Goldner of Transgender Victoria told the local LGBT media. "So it's the first known country singer, or punk musician, or astronaut, or anyone it's still going to be news. That would be the simple answer as to why there is still that sense or pioneering to it."