Porter was an open lesbian[4] and in 1993 moved to Melbourne to be with her partner, fellow writer Andrea Goldsmith. The couple were coincidentally both shortlisted in the 2003 Miles Franklin Award for literature.[3] In 2009, Porter was posthumously recognised by the website Samesame.com.au as one of the most influential gay and lesbian Australians.[5]
Porter was a self-described pagan, committed to pagan principles of courage, stoicism and commitment to the earth and beauty.
