MICHAEL KIRBY once wore robes that signified his position as a justice of the highest court in the country.

But yesterday, the retired judge appeared before a Senate inquiry, in his own clothes, to explain that as a homosexual man who was unable to marry his partner, he remained a ''second-class citizen''.

A ‘‘second-class citizen’’ ... former High Court Justice Michael Kirby. Credit:Michael Clayton-Jones

The two federal inquiries examining three gay marriage bills currently before the Parliament have attracted hundreds of thousands of public responses, mostly in favour of changing the law. Mr Kirby sat in front of the committee to give evidence alongside the former NSW premier Kristina Keneally, also a supporter of same-sex marriage.

Mr Kirby spoke of his personal experience, of the fact he would like to be able to marry his partner of 43 years, Johan van Vloten.