ADF Facebook scandal deepens
The scandal surrounding a homophobic Facebook page which outed gay ADF personnel has deepened with the Star Observer obtaining videos which were placed on the page.
Two of the videos seen by the Star Observer were created using the game Grand Theft Auto 4 and depict the systematic slaughter of patrons of a gay nightclub.
In one titled “The Poofter Club Massacre”, the video’s creator walks his character into the game’s Hercules gay bar and throws a grenade into a group of people who are thrown against the walls and floor when it explodes. People try to flee the bar but he pulls out a machine gun and starts mowing them down. He then takes out the remaining staff members in the bar with single shots to the head.
The video finishes with the slogan “sodomy doesn’t pay” and “poofters… how do you kill yours?”
In another the video’s creator walks up to the front desk of the club, strikes a man with his machine gun and then shoots all the people nearby, causing patrons to flee into the street where a car bomb is waiting for them, throwing dead bodies back inside the building, where he guns down the survivors.
This is followed by further shots of people in the bar being mowed down or killed with explosives, and his character using a car to run down patrons lining up at its entrance. It finishes with the slogan “sodomy doesn’t pay”.
The sound accompanying the video is the Electric Six song Gay Bar which contains a line about starting a “war in a gay bar” in the section used in the video.
The videos are too realistic, gruesome and offensive for the Star Observer to post online.
Other videos posted on the Facebook page contain homophobic attacks on an ADF staff member and the Australian Second Commando Regiment in general.
Some of these contain material from a 1950’s American educational film aimed at teaching children to “beware” homosexuals and the quote “one never knows when the homosexual is about”.
Some of the videos have been bookended with ordinary footage of ADF personnel deployed in Iraq to disguise their intention.
The Australian Coalition for Equality has called on the Defence Minister Stephen Smith to launch an inquiry into homophobia in the ADF, as have a number of individuals, and is in the process of securing comment from the minister in that regard.
The Star Observer received the following statement from an ADF spokesperson after going to print:
“The Australian Defence Force has allowed members who are Gay or Lesbian personnel to serve openly since 1992. In 2005 we recognised same-sex interdependent relationships, providing many of the benefits that married couples receive, such as housing. By 2009 we extended the entitlement to include all benefits married couples receive, such as compensation, superannuation, death benefits and Home Assistance Loans.
“Defence supports diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where all personnel are treated fairly and with respect.
“Defence was made aware of certain ‘anti-gay’ social media activities in August 2010. The material which Defence was made aware of does not reflect Defence’s official position, and is not representative of the behaviour and thoughts of the majority of Defence personnel. The attitudes and behaviours described are contrary to everything that the Australian Defence Force stands for and has achieved in welcoming and supporting diversity across the organisation.
“Defence has very clear guidance about Defence personnel engaging with or through social media such as Facebook. Defence also has equally clear policy about equity and diversity. If there is a breach of these policies resulting in unacceptable behaviour, Defence has in place clear policies for handling such breaches.
“In August 2010, the anti-gay social media activities were reported and the ADF Investigative Service was notified. During ADFIS enquiries it was reported that one of the members targeted on the web site made a formal complaint to NSW Police. This matter is still the subject of ongoing investigation and it is inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
The ADF training is all about bullying and intimidation. It is an outdated and archaic process. The clever country in his regard has not progressed. How we expect a process of bullying not to produce bullies is beyond me. They hide behind their mantel of respectability and should know they earn the disgust they are attracting. Kapooka and Puckapunyal are where the bullies teach bullying and its disgusting.
Maximus, you are wrong about Facebook; while they let you complain, they clearly say they will not necessarily remove the offensive post. If the material was racist it would be illegal & they would have to act. Why are gays & lesbians not better protected>?
Its very saddening to see someone so innocent to be harrassed and abuse by a brainless twat. That person responsible for setting up that gay hate website, will be facing serious consequences not by the law, but the whole of Australia as well.
I hope that ADF catches this bastard/bitches for setting up the website and punish them severly to the blind eyes.
I disagree Facebook is totally to blame. It is a bit like that old expression: “guns don’t kill people – people kill people!”
I agree with Oliver. Facebook are to blame ultimately. They are too slow to react to taking sites down of this calibre; almost a complete inability to follow their own policies. They were notified by many dozens of people, if not hundreds – over a period of six months. As was the ADF. Nothing was done.
This facebook page was created by a bunch of right-wing Nazis. How reassuring to see that these people are infiltrating the ADF.
The statement from the ADF spokesperson is a typical standard response from Government departments and doesn’t mean a thing, nor does it address injustice.
These Bureaucrats breathe rarerified, academic air and do not live in the real world where thuggery is alive and well.
Take for instance the glossy literature found in every Government department affirming the rights, dignity and value of Carers. No, it does not exist and Carers are still bullied and abused by Queensland Health and at the RBWH.
Yes, there are many old world thugs haunting the Barracks and halls of the ADF and many other Government departments and they need to be named and confronted in the car parks and public places of the world.
Letters of complaint are a waste of time and real action is needed to expose these #%*%#^@#%’s.
blame facebook and youtube for their ability to post stuff like this. Social networking is a modern day cancer killing people every day.
yes it seems like the ADF are sitting on it. the youtube user named exdigga who posted the video seems to have already left the army. if anyone else is still serving they should be disciplined. if i disgraced my company on facebook i would be without a job rather quickly i should think.
this exdigga guy seems to have left a trail of homophobia all across the web, as in his comment on this page:
http://www.visit-sydney.com.au/sydney-sites/
his RSVP profile is on google too. have fun.
These bastards who did this are like a broken gun, they are a broken link the security chain. These cowards are simply not wanted nor needed in the defence of Australia. Only a coward hides behind facebook. We need to out them.
And these are the people we put our faith in if theres a war? God forbid.
There are policies which promote equity and fair treatment of all people in the Australian Military. I am an ex-serving member and I was involved in the promotion of this.
I am also a gay woman.
I think the people who made the video should be named, shamed, and made to publicly apologise for what they did. If they don’t comply, then dishonourable discharge.
To be fair…. I have often shot up that gay bar in GTAIV. It’s just one of the myriad places where you can do exactly the same thing. There’s several straight establishments where you’re required by the games missions to do exactly that to the straight patrons… but you’re never even asked to go in the gay club…. it’s purely choice.
So let’s not get cranky at GTAIV, k?
As for how theyve edited that video, that however is VERY messed up. They need to be discharged immediately. That is some sick sh*t
Smith’s silence is deafening…
If we have the names of the ADF members who subscribed to this facebook site, I think it is time to publish their names.
At least they will fit in well in Afghanistan
All the persons involved with this hate campaign should be named and shamed.My nephew and brother and sister all served in the forces and they are disgusted like me.
As an ex serving member of 14 years, I am utterly disgusted by all of this. If the ADF Chief of Staff has any moral compass whatsoever, he should resign for having left the service men and women in his charge open to such abhorrent fear. If he wont resign then the Minister for Defence to show his own values and dismiss him for failing to protect those under his charge.
This is the type of thing along with the poofter bashings and because I have a security clearance, the fear of a 7 year jail term, for being a poofter (they called it in those days – ‘an abhorrent act’) that caused me to resign and leave a job that I loved – serving my country.