Gordon William Doak, was one of Sunshine's early known gay activist. He was a linesman, a builder and a Glengala Road Sunshine West resident. He built his two-story home himself including a gymnasium. Soon after his 1973 'coming out', he sold up and purchased a property in Moor St, Fitzroy, digging underground and setting up his own personal gym under the house for himself and his friends, Most people remember, even decades later, was the arrival of Gordon Doak at the Gay demonstration in the City Square, Melbourne. He decided, on hearing about the demonstration, that he wanted to be there. But not for him anything as mundane as catching a train. Rather he decided to run in to the city, and to carry a banner that he made for himself – 2 foot square, black letters on green canvas that read 'I am proud of my homosexuality. Please change the repression against homosexuals and let us live in peace'. As he ran the eight miles through the streets of Sunshine, Tottenham and Footscray, he was cheered on and waved at by pedestrians and jeered at only twice!In 2019, the City of Melbourne Council installed this historic 1973 photo of Gordon in the “Yes” room in the Melbourne Town Hall for his historic role in campaigning for LGBTI acceptance.gordon william doak, lgbtqia+, glengala road, sunshine west, st. marks amateur athletic club