McFeely stands for Liberals
Peel Hotel owner, Tom McFeely has revealed he is seeking endorsement from the Liberal Party to stand as a number two in time for the Victorian election this year.
McFeely said he will seek backing as a second position Liberal candidate for the Upper House, Northern Metropolitan Region seat.
The seat is currently held by Liberal MP Matthew Guy who is expected to re-contest.
“I want to do more and I feel that the best way to do this is to stand for Parliament,” McFeely said in a statement.
McFeely said he was aware his choice of party would be contentious among the community who’ve struggled for Liberal support on many gay rights issues in Victoria.
“Despite my background, I grew up believing and encouraged by Liberal principles; ideology and philosophy; and I consider myself a prime example of what the Liberal principles of initiative and free enterprise can achieve for the individual,” he said.
“It is my firm belief that the GLBTIQ community and society at large are much better served under a Liberal government than a Labor one.
“We only have to look at the most recent laws introduced and passed by Labor that allow active discrimination against our community by church groups to see that Labor does not have all the answers.”
And to Dave
You’ve obviously been unjustly treated at some point in your life; and I would honestly like to know what has made you form your veiws. Lets have a coffee….. (or cup of tea)
To Andrew and others who feel ‘sold out’. Your bigotry and lack of concept for democracy saddens me. Yes, you are entitled to drink and shop wherever you wish. But to do so just because of who I vote for is sad. If you would only do the research about legislation etc and not listen to propaganda you may have a better or informed view. Let me ask you….. Does society really want its bars and shops and services to display on a window who the owner or manager votes for? Democracy happens at the ballot box in my opinion, don’t let us start encouraging bias in areas of our lives that franly don’t need it…..
To Hannah – Please read the mission statement about the PoofsnPolitics site. It encourages our community to THINK about who they will vote for. It then has links to ALL the parties. It is about informed voting with no bias. If you think it’s biased or encourages anyone to vote a particular way then I welcome your comments as to which way you think the bias or encouragement is because we will take steps to correct that if you wish.
Shame Tom Shame!
You have sold out the community for short-term gain. I and my friends will no longer support your venue, I’m suggesting the rest of the community do the same.
I would like to add that Tom McFeely did very well making his millions while the Victorian Labor Party was in office. This is of course the same Party he says is operating a Nanny State and that openly supports Same Sex Marriage. This is actually a complaint of Toms. He supports the Liberal Party on these issues.
Hey presto, a new political group springs up – poofsnpolitics – and then shortly afterwards Tom McFeely announces he wants to be a Liberal candidate. Go to the poofsnpolitics web site and whose face appears as one of its organisers? Yep, Tom McFeely. Poofsnpolitics wants to survey what issues are important to gay men. No doubt the information gained may assist Mr McFeely with his campaign. People should keep that in mind.
Tom you have shot yourself in the foot.
I had no idea my dollar spent at the Peel was going to support a party that is against Gay Marriage.
A party that has had many of it’s members openly vilifying us. Even the influential Liberal Jeff Kennett likened us to child sex offenders.
The reason Tom does not support Gay Marriage is he says as it has “Religious Overtones”. Maybe he does not want equal rights but I bloody do. Tom might not be aware that Civil Marriages with no religious overtones happens all the time.
You complain of a Nanny State. What about deciding who we can Marry?
I recall the days of the Liberal Law and Order. The Tasty night club was raided for no lawful reason other then the sexuality of patrons. People were illegally strip searched. At warehouse parties police dressed in drag and then raided them. This is not to mention the many reported cases of open harassment by police.
Oh and Tom you talk of hospitals, well you did not have visiting rights for your same sex partner then. You “Dirty old homo” was the message at some hospitals. Things where terrible. My partner is a doctor and he recalls the disgraceful way the Liberal Party conducted itself.
Have they moved on? Well many of the same members are associated with the Salt Shakers, and other Christian Gay Hate Groups. Let us not forget the relationship with the Brethren and the Liberal Party. They listen to them more then the thousands that attend Midsummer.
And it goes without saying then Tom supports Work Choices. “Get rid of those homo’s and dikes”, with no unfair dismissal laws. That was what all Liberal Party’s supported at the last election.
I am no fan of the Labor Party, but I do not hate myself enough to vote Liberal. I do not hate our community. I want Gay Marriage. It is a right. How dare you Tom, how dare you use my money against me!
At Melbourne Pride the Liberals were hissed for good bloody reason. History.
You know Tom my first great love was gay bashed. His family were those nasty type of Christians you are going into bed with as a Liberal. All of his things where taken away by his family. I was told by the police if I kept anything I would be charged with stealing. This the way the Liberal Party had in Victoria. Oh and lets not forget the hidden cameras in the toilets at the Peel. I do not want to go back to those days.
Victoria has been growing in leaps and bounds since Liberals were given the boot. We cannot afford to roll a dice on a Party that so openly hates our community.
I want a political Party that places me above dirty deals with the Brethren. The Liberal Party must not associate itself with such hate groups before it can earn the respect of our community.
Tom McFeely may have a broad philosophic support for the private sector and individual enterprise and initiative – but he has very little concept of what else he will find in the Victorian Parliamentary Liberal Party.
The Liberals in Victoria are dominated by supporters of fundamentalist social conservatism. They view GLBTIQ law reform with hostility and disdain. As the owner of a ‘notorious’ gay venue – he will spend 90% of his time defending himself, and justifying his presence within a deeply conservative culture.
The criticisms he makes of Labor, whom he says have not ensured sufficient GLBTIQ protections from discrimination in Victoria – have been supported and undersigned by the Victorian Parliamentary Liberals at every opportunity.
Those legal reforms enacted by Labor which assist GLBTIQ rights, have been opposed by the Liberal Party in Victoria just as stridently.
Well Done Tom,
There is a definate left wing bias within the Gay community – you only have to listen to Joy 94.9 and read the community papers.
Just look at Labor under Kevin Rudd – they are far more right wing on social policy than the Liberals ever were and as for the Greens can promise what they like cause in the end they know they will never have to govern and enact laws in parliament.
At lease Tony Abbott and Ted Baileau have talked to the gay media – you cant say that about any of the Labor MP’s
In admiring what Liberal principles can achieve for the individual and having a firm belief that the GLBTIQ community would be “much better served under a Liberal government than a Labor one” Tom McFeely may well be able to stand as a number two with out even being endorsed.