Jason Tuazon-McCheyne will vehemently deny he is a politician but having founded his own political party, if his vision becomes reality he will become one.

In these times, starting a political party has got to be an act of hope. Surely?

“Hope?” Jason Tuazon-McCheyne laughs. It is a warm and boisterous laugh and, pardon the pun, he really does have a glimmer in his eye. No, he is not a politician. Yet.

“Well, optimism yes and perhaps naivety,” he answers straight-faced.

Again with the glimmer, he continues, “you’ve got to be optimistic. You’ve got to believe the world is a good place and we can do this.”

Already, his party, the Australian Equality Party, is making waves.

Launched in February 2014, the Australian Equality Party says it will represent Australia’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) community.

“That’s 2.5 million Australians. Factor in their family and friends and you’re looking at half the population.”

“It is about time we have our own voice, speak for ourselves and represent ourselves.”

Their major policy platform is one close to Mr Tuazon-McCheyne’s heart: legalizing gay marriage.

For 14 and half years, Mr Tuazon-McCheyne and his partner Adrian have fought to have their union legalized.

“Everyone should have the right to marry the person they love. I know it sounds like common sense, but c’mon, enough is enough.”

And there it is. Agitation, frustration, even anger. Not to anyone in particular, but at the injustice of it all.

His gaze is now fixed.

“Homosexual teens are seven times more likely to harm themselves than straight teens. Seventeen.”

There it is. The fire. That crucial ingredient to survive dirty politics. It is enough to know he means business.

Serious business it is, to survive politics. To get anywhere near the pond to even make a ripple.

If things go well for the Australian Equality Party, Mr Tuazon-McCheyne will get to dip his toes into the murky Australian Senate, when he stands for election in 2016.

The party is in year two of their three-year strategic plan and  the party’s policy papers are due to be released at February’s gay pride march.

Beyond that? The glimmer returns. “Who is to say we won’t be the next major, minor party? Just look at the Greens.”

He’s got a point. The Australian political system has witnessed the rising success of minor parties. Before 1998, the Greens were largely unknown. Remember the Democrats?

Going on the past success of minor parties, the attraction seems to lie in an ability to offer the Australian public an alternative.

That is what the AEP says it will offer; no bullshit, Australian fair dinkum fairness.

“We are going to do what we say, say what we mean and represent the people.”

“It’s not about left or right. It’s time to move beyond that. This is about human rights.”

This is what belies AEP’s purple banner: fairness, human rights and equality.

“Everyone should have equal access and rights regardless of age, sex, culture and gender.”

Jason Tuazon-McCheyne does not like labels.

“Labels aren’t helpful anymore – it’s time to move beyond them.”

This statement demonstrates Mr Tuazon-McCheyne’s politics in more ways than one.

The party positions itself as above politics and has, thus far, achieved success: its current membership is 40 percent right-winged and 40 percent heterosexual.

“People can vote however they want in the lower house. We are the option for people that want to vote with a social conscience.”

As for the idea of being a politician – “how depressing!”-  Jason Tuazon-McCheyne will have to become one to manage the diverse community he represents.

“Perhaps I’ll just have to redefine what it means?” he says.

The task ahead is huge. But Jason Tuazon-McCheyne has got just the right amount of optimism to pull it off.