Corporate supporters stand up to religious right
The owners of Marquette Turner Luxury Homes are encouraging other businesses to speak out against homophobia after receiving hate mail from FamilyVoice members after they registered as supporters of Australian Marriage Equality.
Marquette is one of 17 organisations, small and large, who have registered their support for same-sex marriage on AME’s website. Other organisations include IBM, Westpac, the Commonwealth Bank and the City of Sydney.
FamilyVoice member Malcolm Pryor responded by contacting 12 of the companies to object.
My wife and I note with disappointment your company’s appearance on the AME website, the letter sent to Marquette read. Homosexual behaviour is unhealthy and should not be promoted. Homosexual activists are attempting to change the definition of an institution (marriage) that has existed in every major culture in the world since the beginning of time.
An outraged Michael Marquette, who co-owns Marquette with his partner Simon Turner, responded to Pryor’s letter, explaining his business was not wanted. He encouraged others to do the same if they receive such correspondence.
At first I read the letter in surprise and then abject disgust, Marquette told Sydney Star Observer.
Our response was short and sharp and basically said we are a company that stands for anti-discrimination in every form and would never choose to do business with a group of people who didn’t share those beliefs.
It’s so easy to be silent about it and maybe throw the letter in the bin or put it under a pile of papers. But the more we come out as a group of people and support worthy causes and point out the prejudices that exist, the quicker people will start to get behind the cause.
Four major companies on AME’s website contacted by Sydney Star Observer did not report receiving Pryor’s letter, or any other form of negative feedback from registering on the site. All said they would continue to lend their name to the AME cause despite any such feedback.
Intriguing methodology. I’m suprised I will not notice this on this large news sites initially. Nicely played!
RETRACTION
I would like to retract, and appologise for, the accusation about removal of comments. I have now discovered that those comments were, are still on, the Melbourne Star web page relating to this article, not the SSO article.
I note you have removed the first two comments posted and initially accepted on this item. The first by Malcolm pointing out some anomalies in your article, and the one posted and initially accepted two days later by myself.
Was this because you do NOT like the truth being told?
Perhaps my comment that the use of the word “Hate” in relation to Malcolm’s letter was as silly as saying that if you object to smoking you HATE all smokers.
Grow up guys!!!
Saying Christians deserve dirty trash for breakfast would appear more -œhateful than saying something that is unhealthy is wrong.
These christian extremist groups backroom deals & standover tactics need to come out into the open- look at the mess Howard got into with the Exlusive Bretheren, spending up big to discredit the Greens, just because they were on a hate campaign due to the fact that the leader of the Greens is gay.
Get all the backroom deals & secret pressure out in the open. Good on SSO.
Homophobic people disseminate material to promote hatred of homosexuals.
For what purpose?
Is one of the intended purposed to encourage people to terrorise homosexuals – to despise them – to discriminate against them?
The homophobic people who write the hate letters encourage homophobic people who can barely read and write to react to the hate letters by terrorising and persecuting homosexuals.
Is it possible that some homosexuals might react against homophobic people by terrorising those homophobic people when they write hate letters about homosexuals?
It is possible.
One way homophobic people can eliminate the possibility of retaliation is to refrain from writing homophobic texts.
Is there love in Christianity?
Not for homosexuals.
I would think you would want to distance your publication from this issue.
The original hate letter writer’s address has been published and a simple White pages search gets you their phone number. Let alone their physical address is now public.
Do you thing it right that if these people have children they should be subject to possible terrorizing behaviour from those who may choose to overreact.
This issue is gaining greater audience and the likelyhood someone may take retribution too far is also gaining.
I would ask you to consider removing this article.
the FamilyVoice stormtroopers should learn some real christianity, from the unitarian and metropolitan community churches
I was born into the religious right. I have often wondered if there is a god, because in my case, as far back as I can remember, I have been gay and had to suffer the isolation someone like me does because of my circumstances.
Being born in Busselton, WA, the chances that one of my birthrights would be Christian Fundamentalism is almost a given. Much like if you were born in Newcastle, NSW, your chances of living in a low socio-economic household was at one time greater than the average. In most locations you will find exceptions to the majority, I am using examples to explain how the circumstances of your birth can effect the path you find yourself on in life, and how for some it is not an easy one.
Ambitions aside, you may expect if the surrounding you grew up in were agreeable you would probably eventually settle there, comfortable among family and friends. In my case, because of the religion in Busselton, and maybe in another’s case, because Newcastle couldn’t meet their ambitions we find ourselves leaving it long behind us, demographically and emotionally.
For years I have tried to paint the veneer that my connection to Christian Fundamentalism was no longer a part of my essence and I had the strength to forget it. But I have learnt, just as someone who has broken free from an underprivileged past, I cannot cut it from my life because to do so I break any remaining thread of love that I have fought hard to resist but actually cannot be happy without.
There is good in Christianity just as there can be richness in poverty. Engage and explore each of your differences and learn to walk away proud if you cannot win the battle without anger.
Troy wrote;
“I’ve read the -œhate letter and being gay myself I disagree with the authors opinion. However, I found it hard to sense a tone hatred, rather an opinion was being expressed”
The opinion expressed by Mr. Pryor was that;
1.-œHomosexual behaviour is unhealthy and should not be promoted
2. -œHomosexual activists are attempting to change the definition of an institution (marriage) that has existed in every major culture in the world since the beginning of time
If Mr. Pryor’s opinions are not based on a hatred of homosexuals, then what are his opinions based upon?
For example, if we exchanged the noun Mr. Pryor used with a noun which described another group of people, would his statement be accepted as an innocuous opinion or would members of that other group be offended by his opinion?
James wrote;
“I don’t think businesses should register as supporters of any type of marriage -œequality register or organisation (whether pro same-sex marriage or anti same-sex marraige). Sure, register as an individual but don’t use the perceived -œclout of a company name to appear -œbigger and -œmore important than an individual”
Where do individuals get their ideas from?
I suggest most individuals in our society get their ideas about morality from religious organisations.
Most, if not all, religious organisations operating in Australia indoctrinate their members to believe that homosexuality is a disgusting thing. Those religious organisations also indoctrinate their members to avoid fraternising or socialising with homosexuals because according to the doctrines of those religious organisations, homosexual behaviour is unacceptable in mainstream society and therefore it should not be tolerated by those people who want to belong to the religious organisation.
Members of religious organisations are encouraged to demonstrate proof of their choice of wanting to be associated with a religious organisation by dissociating themselves from homosexuals.
If some organisations openly promote the hatred of homosexuals why is it not alright for some organisations to openly promote and support the tolerance and acceptance of homosexuals in our society?
If some organisations openly promote the hatred of homosexuals why should the promotion of the opposite view be restricted to individuals?
Hafiz wrote, “Learn from yon orient shell to love thy foe,
and store with pearls the hand that brings thee woe.
Free, like yon rock, from base vindictive pride….”
Take a chill pill man!
I don’t think businesses should register as supporters of any type of marriage “equality” register or organisation (whether pro same-sex marriage or anti same-sex marraige). Sure, register as an individual but don’t use the perceived “clout” of a company name to appear “bigger” and “more important” than an individual.
I’ve read the “hate” letter and being gay myself I disagree with the authors opinion. However, I found it hard to sense a tone hatred, rather an opinion was being expressed.
There has been quite strong reaction to this issue on Marquette Turners website. I noticed generally there are no comments left to most articles they write however this one whipped up quite an unpleasant reaction.
My fear is treating supposed “hate” with hate won’t fix the problem. A considered and calm response to such narrow minded beliefs is what I believe is needed.
I don’t know, there’s something not ringing true about this article. I hope you did due dilligence because it’s far too easy to get caught up in beat ups for the sake of sensationalism.
Editor’s Note: Thanks for your concern Ron. A copy of the letter was also sent to our publication in Melbourne.
Apparently, according to this article, Mr. Malcolm Pryor, who is alleged to be a member of an organisation called, “Family/Voice made statements in a letter to some businesses who lent their support to an organisation called, “Australian Marriage Equality”.
Mr. Pryor apparently sought to influence those organisations that supported “Australian Marriage Equality” into withdrawing their support.
Mr. Pryor gave his reasons why those organisations should withdraw their support from “Australian Marriage Equality”.
Those reasons were;
1.-œHomosexual behaviour is unhealthy and should not be promoted”
2. “Homosexual activists are attempting to change the definition of an institution (marriage) that has existed in every major culture in the world since the beginning of time
Referring to reason number one, if Mr. Pryor means that, homosexual sex is unhealthy because many homosexuals have contracted AIDS through having homosexual sex and therefore homosexual sex should not be promoted – my understanding of the incidence of that disease is that the majority of people in the world who have that disease are heterosexual and I deduce from that information that the disease was probably transmitted to the heterosexual sufferers of that disease through heterosexual sex. Why does Mr. Pryor consider that homosexual sex is unhealthy when homosexual sex is compared to heterosexual sex?
Referring to reason number 2, homosexuals have been persecuted by every major culture in the world since the beginning of time – we want the persecution to stop – denial of human rights such as the legal recognition of same sex marriage is a manifestation of discrimination against a person’s gender – we want the persecution and discrimination to stop.
Why does Mr. Pryor want the persecution and discrimination of homosexuals by our society and culture to continue?
Let me put it this way:
HOMOSEXUALS – deserve to marry and are friendly outgoing and funny people, such as myself (no wonder why I am an athiest).
RELIGION AND FAMILY GROUPS – deserve dirty trash for breakfast and are “causing hate crimes against marriage” and society.