[1] However, much closer to home Watson was much more heavily involved in the establishment of the Campaign Against Moral Persecution (CAMP), which was Australia's first openly homosexual group, formed in September 1970.
In 1976 he notably appeared on the ABC's Monday Conference program in Mt Isa, debating the topic of gay rights, in front of a partly hostile audience with one member throwing faeces at him.
In late 1984, the Federal Minister for Health Neal Blewett established the National Advisory Council on AIDS, with Watson being named as one of its first members.
We should acknowledge George Petersen in particular, Frank Walker, Jack Ferguson and Barrie Unsworth [...] Neville Wran, while personally in favour of homosexual law reform, bungled it badly and was only constructive at the end, in 1984 [...] It was a demonstration of ineptitude and failure of leadership by numerous MPs and to the glory of no major party.
"[5] On his death on 6 May 2014, the president of ACON Mark Orr noted that "Lex was a dedicated and courageous pioneer whose work laid the foundations for a more authentic, caring and inclusive society, and for that he has earned himself pride of place in the history of our community [...] His work in relation to LGBT rights was ground-breaking, and throughout his life the outcomes he helped achieve in relation to law reform and community health have been significant and enduring.
"[6] In the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours, Watson was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "significant service to the community as an advocate for gay and lesbian rights.