Devine and Ballard biffo continues

Triple J radio host Tom Ballard and News Ltd conservative columnist Miranda Devine have continued their back-and-forth over Devine’s controversial column about Penny Wong’s baby announcement.

Devine defended her weekend opinion piece today, stat

ing:

“The reaction to my column last week pointing out the perils of a fatherless society is a case study in how intimidation, vilification, distortion and outright lies are being used in an attempt to silence unfashionable opinions.The column was respectful of Finance Minister Penny Wong and her female partner, who is expecting a baby, and stated that ‘love conquers all’.”

Ballard had his own response to Devine’s follow up piece, writing on a blog:

“I wish you would be more careful with your public words when discussing matters which will affect the public perception of gay and lesbian people. As I endeavoured to remind you in my video response to your initial article, uninformed, unsupported commentary such as yours contribute to a climate of prejudice towards and misunderstanding about GLBTIQ Australians which can be extremely damaging to the mental health of gay youth, hence our calls for the publication of your column to be reconsidered.”

You can read Ballard’s full response here.

Ballard first used a YouTube video to take Devine to task over comments such as this one in her original column:

“Why are so many people exhorting the rest of us to celebrate as if [Penny Wong’s baby announcement] were some major milestone in human civilisation? The traditional heterosexual norm of a nuclear family and children is something to be kept in a closet like an embarrassment.”

You can check out Ballard’s video below and Devine’s original column here.