Abbott faces marriage protesters
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott faced some angry marriage equality protesters in Melbourne on Sunday.
Abbott was caught up in the stand-off as he was dining at the University Cafe in Lygon St with The Australian‘s foreign editor Greg Sheridan.
Equal Love convenor Ali Hogg said protesters had been tipped off Abbott was in the restaurant.
“We couldn’t let the opportunity go by without making our way down there to give him a piece of our mind on his position on marriage equality,” Hogg said.
Hogg said around six people surrounded Abbott and Sheridan chanting, “Tony Abbott, you’re a bigot, gay marriage you don’t dig it.”
It’s understood some of the workers inside the cafe signed a petition in support of marriage equality and handed it to Abbott.
Protesters were eventually removed from the premises but continued to chant at Abbott and Sheridan, banging on the window of the restaurant holding up posters for an upcoming marriage equality rally.
Photos: Rachel Sztanski
Asking Papal Knight Rupert Murdoch to stop telling lies about the GLBTI community is a bit like asking the Christian Lobby to support the majority of Christians – pink elephants will fly backwards first. So why be nice to the Murdoch Mafia? What is to be gained? Do we think the Vietnam War protesters were welcomed by the Murdoch press? They got our troops home by making noise- a lot of it. If you want rights, you will have to take it. They are seldom giving them away with “Oh go on and get married you good old chaps”. Now we are writing on this forum, thanks to the efforts of people in the Mardi-Gras in 78. They did not decide to march quietly in a park, they shouted in the streets so everyone heard them. Does anyone really think, the guy who is mean and nasty to his sister, is going to be nice to strangers? This was a huge success, it showed Abbott to be mean and nasty, and then a couple of days later Fairfax went for Abbott’s throat. Now we have leadership speculation as Tony is seen as out of touch with the community. Well done Ali, more of it please!
G Wilson, we’re already isolated from the larger community by being stereocast as the only ones to experience homosexuality.
The reality is that homosexuality is present in most people, if not everyone, but is denied due to cultural reasons.
I agree Danica. We don’t get a break, so why should Tony? Do-gooders, like Northern Steve, saying these tactics will fail overlook the fact that most people are just sheep and believe anything they’re told. They just go with the flow.
Good on Ali and co!
The homophobia people like Abbott spread on a daily basis needs to be challenged! I don’t get a break from the discriminatory laws Abbott defends when I sit down for Sunday dinner so why should Tony?
And even if you don’t want to get married (I sure don’t) it doesn’t make the cause of marriage equality any less meaningful. The point is laws currently enshrine discrimination which is simply disgusting and should not be tolerated by anyone.
Getting out onto the streets and demanding change will get rid of these homophobic laws, not politely asking Abbott to read a letter or just to stop being a homophobe or some shit. Seriously.
My God, we’ll be getting death threats next!
As a participant in political protests in the early 1990’s in Tasmania, I feel I must pointout that not all positive change in gay law reform must come from openly aggressive or threatening behavoiur. I was one of the many volunteer activist with TGLRG in Hobart & I remember one protest when we sat quitly in hobart’s parlimentary building & waited intil the approriate time, unfurled our gay rights banner, stood for one minute in silience, then left after having made our opinion clear.
In our need to achive equality, we must be careful not to isolate ourselves form from the larger community unnecessarily.
*groan*
No doubt their were good intentions…but it was a bad idea, made worse by how damaging it is to the rest of us fighting for same-sex marriage.
Tell me, Dave, who are you to know that Abbott was using his expense account, and not his own funds? Even if he was, it was not a public meeting. This shows extremely poor judgement by people who are simply looking to justify their own righteousness by personally denigrating others, rather than engaging in the debate, as shown by “Hey Davo, I still reckon Abbott’s gay, and Julie and Bronwyn Bishop are his faghags.”
If you are trying to change peoples’ opinions, these sort of tactics will continue to massively fail. You want to see why, go and read the comments on the article on this incident by Greg Sheridan in the Australian. Whatever your opinion of The Australian, its readers are still the people whom you need to convince if you want to see a change in society.
Hey Davo, I still reckon Abbott’s gay, and Julie and Bronwyn Bishop are his faghags.
Trevor Khan MLC, it was Clover Moore who tabled the Gay Adoption Bill. Not you. Secondly, Ali Hogg was not abusive and was correct in describing Abbott a bigot. It’s a word in the English dictionary and he is one. May I remind you that the National Party, of which you are a member, has an atrocious record on gay rights.
Owen, I don’t know why you’re so upset? I never said you should be forced to sign a petition. I merely suggested you sign one. Nor am I looking for sympathy. I’ve broken the law and am prepared to face the consequences.
Abbott is shit. He is a puppet of the catholic church – he is an evil troll – Good on her and anyone else who disrupts his life – He should be hounded on a daily basis until he shuts the fuck up and goes away.
I totally agree with protests about the violence spread in our country for the Catholic Church and Conservative Factic Power.
Who said that protests have to be with petals of roses? If the government keeps its violence with the citizens of Australia that support gay marriage, they will get all that rage back to them.
Usually politicians forget that they are in a position of power because citizens are put them in there, to legislate for citizens agreement and needs, not to support their own way of life and their own family customs.
I hope many Australian citizens understand that our country should lead the region, we are a developed, democratic and pluralist country. The majority of us support gay marriage, therefore the parliaments have to work and approve this demand. It’s is shown that people are sick of ideology confrontation between parties and citizens matters are left behind.
@Mauricio_L_Vera
Stuart Baanstra, if your facing prosecution, its your own doing. Dont expect everyone to be sympathetic.
Maybe it was all too “rough” for them?
It is not often I agree with ben, but on this occasion I do!
People like Ben/Antony, etc are best to be ignored.
It was hardly an Abbott Carbon Tax rally with a doll of Julia Gillard burning was it!