‘Lifesaver’ Louise farewelled

Thursday, 24 April 2008

Iain Clacher A “very strong Catholic” grandmother credited with saving the lives of “countless” gays and lesbians has been farewelled with a requiem mass in Brisbane on April 14. Janet “Louise” Moesbergen, 74, died peacefully on April 3. Best known as a volunteer coordinator at the Queensland AIDS Council (now QAHC), Louise was also a founding figure and driving force behind Building Bridges, a Catholic group which aimed to reconcile families with their adult gay children. “At the time (late 1990s) there were parish priests openly discriminating against family members as well as gay people themselves,” said Karyn Walsh, coordinator of the Micah Project, which fostered Building Bridges in the late 1990s. “There were hundreds of parents or siblings or even partners whose relationships ended because of sexuality issues, and I think a lot of people were able to come to closure when they had someone saying the church’s teachings were not necessarily the truth,” Walsh said. Moesbergen also helped gay people better understand their straight families, according to her friend and former QuAC colleague David Rowley. “Without fail she turned up to every volunteer induction at QuAC and talked on behalf of parents with gay children,” Rowley said. “I think she changed a lot of people’s attitudes, even the attitudes of LGBTs towards their parents. She gave a new perspective on what it’s like to be gay in a straight family.” Rowley told Queensland Pride that Moesbergen first volunteered at QuAC because she “suspected” a member of her family was gay and she wanted more information. “Our friendship was slow to develop but once it did, it blossomed and she became more of a mother figure to me than a work colleague. “Once she got involved in something she just went for it,” he said. Activist Shayne Wilde said Moesbergen had saved many lives through her counseling and advocacy. “She wasn’t there for accolades, she just did it,” Wilde told Queensland Pride. “She had scrupulous ethics and was very good at what she did – at both the policy level and personal level. Amongst other things, she met with government ministers, and got the Catholic Church to donate money for anti-homophobia workshops in the outback,” Wilde said. “She was so effective in doing what she did she saved countless lives, put families back together and prevented suicides. “She was unbelievably intuitive and extremely supportive. I don’t think I’ve seen anybody give more to a cause –and she and her husband were involved in several organizations and causes. “She’s left a huge imprint and legacy. We’ve got no doubt that’s she’s up there kicking butt and probably working on the popes right now. “One of the last things she said before she died was that she’d see what she can do. She’s got plans,” Wilde said. Louise Moesbergen is survived by seven children, twelve grandchildren and a very grateful gay community.