Fifteen years ago Jason Virgo was out the front of the marriage equality movement as a leader of Equal Love. Now he’s heading into the South Australian parliament elected under the One Nation banner.
Given the party’s stance against marriage equality, rainbow families and transgender rights, the political transformation has left many wondering what prompted Virgo shift from one end of the political spectrum to the other – and questioning where he now stands on issues affecting LGBTIQA+ communities.
One Nation is celebrating a record result in last week’s South Australian election, gaining four seats in the House of Assembly and three in the Legislative Council.
Virgo is the new member for the rural seat of MacKillop, having won it from Liberal MP Rebekah Rosser. It’s a significant turnaround for the electorate, as Rosser previously held the seat with a margin of more than 22%, but a massive swing delivered it to One Nation.
Virgo is described as someone who works in a security‑based role and has previously worked at the Immigration Detention Centre on Christmas Island. He holds a communications degree and is currently studying to become a mortgage broker. In 2023 he filled a casual vacancy on the City of Mount Gambier Council, which sits just outside the state seat he now represents.
Before joining One Nation, he had been a member of the Labor Party, joining at age 16. By 19 he had switched political allegiances to the Australian Sex Party, standing as a candidate at the 2010 state election and again in the 2013 federal election. It is understood he later returned to Labor and served as secretary of the Mount Gambier branch.
Virgo was also a prominent leader in the push for marriage equality and served as a spokesperson for Equal Love in South Australia. In 2011 he was one of the organisers of a rally at the South Australian parliament that was attacked by Christian protesters. The International Day Against Homophobia, Intersex-phobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) event staged a mass same-sex wedding. Virgo spoke to the Star Observer at the time about the violent incident.
Virgo says his political transformation was part of growing up
Speaking at a media conference this week, Virgo desctibed his political transformation as part of growing up.
“I was a teenager. Every person when they were 16 and 19 were doing crazier things than joining a political party,” he said.
“I was a kid, basically. We grow up, we learn new things, we change our views as we age and that’s just a reality.
“I’m focused on the things that matter. I’m worried about MacKillop — it’s been taken for granted for too long.” Virgo said.
What remains unclear is where Virgo now stands on issues including marriage equality and transgender rights – issues One Nation has consistently campaigned against.
Family First call on Jason Virgo to make a clear stance
Conservative political rivals Family First have called on Virgo to make a clear statement on his positions. Family First spokesperson Lyle Shelton said South Australians who supported One Nation in the election deserved to know Virgo’s stance.
“Many social conservatives and Christians have supported One Nation, but would they if they knew the party is ambivalent about marriage, family and children’s gender?” Shelton said in a statement.
The former head of the Australian Christian Lobby was the leader of the failed ‘No’ campaign against marriage equality and later joined Cory Bernardi’s short‑lived Australian Conservatives. After a stint with Fred Nile’s Christian Democrats, he found a political home with Family First. Bernardi switched to One Nation and is now its leader in South Australia.
Shelton said Virgo’s previous alignment with LGBTIQA+ politics was a concern.
“Does Mr Virgo, like many political activists in that movement, support the gender‑fluid indoctrination of children in schools?” he said. “Australian families deserve to know whether One Nation is drifting on these issues or whether it will hold the line.”
OUTinPerth has reached out to Jason Virgo to clarify his position on key issues.
