Jim Hyde

James Hyde (died August 2018), known as Jim, was an Australian LGBTQI rights and health activist, community leader, public health policy adviser, and former political adviser for the Australian Labor Party. He is the title character of the 2025 family drama film, Jimpa, made by his daughter, Adelaide filmmaker Sophie Hyde.

Early life and education James Hyde grew up in country towns around South Australia.

In the 1980s, Hyde was a political adviser for the Australian Labor Party (ALP) as well as serving on its LGBTI policy committee.

He stood for the Australian Senate as an ALP candidate in the 1990 Australian federal election. He worked with and for Peter Duncan for the 13 years he served in the Australian Parliament, undertaking a variety of roles.

Activism Hyde advocated for LGBTQI rights, speaking out when homosexuality was still criminalised in Australia.

Academia and other roles Hyde was a member of the University of Adelaide Council and the board of the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music, and a founding member of the Graham F Smith Peace Trust. He is referred to as a professor in many sources, In 2005, he was director of policy and communications at Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Recognition and honours In 1993 Hyde received the inaugural Rainbow Award for Leadership in the Gay Community.

Personal life and death Hyde was married to Patricia before coming out as gay, and they had two daughters, Alice and filmmaker Sophie Hyde. After his death, Sophie made a film called Jimpa based on their family's unusual life, as a tribute to him. He is played by John Lithgow in the film, while Sophie is played by Olivia Colman. Hyde's grandchild, Aud Mason-Hyde, who is nonbinary in real life, plays the character based on themselves.

His life partner in later life was Glenn. He died in August 2018, after suffering a series of strokes, and was honoured with tributes both in the federal and South Australian Parliaments, by Julian Hill and Frances Bedford respectively.