[4] Making his maiden speech to the council during a debate on the Summary Offences Bill on 2 June 1988, O'Grady spoke out against excess of NSW Police Force powers and for the decriminalisation of prostitution while also thanking his primary supporters and inspirations in the Labor movement: "I owe a great deal to the faith and trust that people such as former Deputy Premier Jack Ferguson, Delcia Kite and John Faulkner placed in me during the years that I have been active in the Labor Party.

", and in response O'Grady noted that most politicians were more socially conservative than the people who elected them: "there is no doubt I have experienced more discrimination in Parliament House than anywhere else.

[8] O'Grady went on to champion the gay and lesbian community in parliament, inviting all MPs to join him in marching in the 1992 Mardi Gras.

[11] In 1992 O'Grady made headlines by demanding that his boyfriend, Murray Ward, a university lecturer, be extended the same travel and other benefits as other parliamentarians' heterosexual partners, a request that he continued to ask for the next three years.

[7][12] In 1993 O'Grady revealed to the Sydney Star Observer that 000 Emergency phone operators had refused him assistance when he and Ward were attacked by a gang on William Street, asking him three times if it was a life-threatening situation before hanging up: "My life was not in danger but my point is this – any citizen has a right to report crime or potential crime and if the police are serious about combating street violence against gays and lesbians then they have to intervene before someone is bashed.

"[13] However, in May 1994 Murray Ward died and it was revealed that O'Grady had found his 26-year-old partner dead from an accidental heroin overdose in his Paddington flat.

[14][15][16] O'Grady initially considered running for preselection as the Labor candidate in the Legislative Assembly seat of Bligh against independent MP Clover Moore, for the March 1995 state election.

[17] However he later withdrew in favour of former Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras president, Susan Harben, who was nevertheless defeated by Moore at the election.

[21] His admission was met with overwhelming support including the Labor Premier Bob Carr, who said: "Having a politician say, 'This is my life, HIV and Aids', is a reminder to everyone that a lot more of this is going to happen in our society.

[21] A few years later, with health significantly improved, O'Grady returned to work as a staffer for the ALP, including as Chief of Staff to the Minister for Tourism and Sport and Recreation in the Carr and Iemma governments, Sandra Nori from 2003 to 2007.

[23] While Chief of Staff, O'Grady became involved in the controversy surrounding cabinet minister Milton Orkopoulos and his being charged for underage sexual offences.

When asked questions in response to a previous statement from Obeid that Macdonald had never been in his office, O'Grady noted that he was "incredulous" and thought there had been a mistake in the record.

[30] O'Grady's contribution to public life was commemorated by the Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon, in a constituency statement on 23 February 2015, noting: As an MLC, Paul was fearless in his pursuit of social justice and a positive agenda for change.

[31] Several years later, during the second reading debate on the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017, the Member for Grayndler, Anthony Albanese, also reflected on O'Grady and his role in the moves toward LGBT equality: In June 1990, my courageous friend Paul O'Grady, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, came out as a gay man.