MP denies alleged homophobic slur
Victorian Labor MP Joe Helper has denied he made a homophobic slur towards a Middle Park man when discussing Labor preferences in the upcoming Melbourne by-election
Following an email conversation this morning, Mark Whearem contacted the Star Observer to say he was left angered when Helper responded, “Whatever blows up your skirt” after Whearem said he would no longer vote for Labor because the party would preference Family First ahead of the Greens in the July 21 by-election.
Whearem’s email was sent to a large group of Labor MPs, however, Helper was the only one to respond.
“I have never spoke[n] with my family members … about politics, but the gate was open by two of my aunts who were shocked that our PM is against gay marriage,” Whearem wrote in the email.
Whearem – who claims to be a longtime Labor supporter – said he felt both federal and state Labor had ‘turned their back’ on the gay and lesbian community and that given Victorian Labor’s decision to preference Family First over the Greens, he would switch his support to the Greens.
“Labor used to be about social justice and in favour of equal rights for the gay and lesbian community, but to preference a Family First candidate over other candidates … I am disappointed they’ve done that,” Whearem said.
To this Helper replied, “Whatever blows up your skirt Mark, I for one will continue to represent the 85+ percent of my electorate who passionately voted against the Greens.”
In a later email, Helper accused Whearem of a “Greens faked outrage message.”
When contacted by the Star Observer, Helper said the ‘skirt’ reference was simply a throwaway line.
“I put that in the same category as whatever rocks your boat, whatever blows up your skirt, or whatever blows up your trousers for that matter, maybe I should have used that,” he said.
“I didn’t realise the gentleman was so sensitive, but it certainly had no intended reflection about anybody’s [sexuality] whatsoever.”
Helper said he would not withdraw his comments.
Note: Mark Whearem is a former Star Observer employee.
The Labor party are a dreadful bunch, and plenty of them are homophobic, especially the Catholic right.
As a rule, with Queensland excluded, people who live in Liberal party seats are more pro gay marriage than Labor party seats, hence all these problems arising as Labor’s core voters in their safest seats have issues with any pro gay marriage stance.
Western suburbs safe Labor seats are rampant with homophobia.
The Greens do not represent a reliable alternative, their economic policies are disasterous, not to mention their immigration views.
I’m a moderate Liberal party voter, but always give my first preference to the Liberal Democratic Party who have, in my opinion the best policies of any of them by far.
I fail to see how the Greens’ social policies to give dole bludgers more money would benefit any working person. I’m not going to have my taxes pay for their beer and cigarettes, no thanks.
ben, love the Greens! Also, love how my comments irk you!
I wonder if he represents the 58% of his electorate who passionately voted against the Australian Labor Party?
Oh brenton, please stop the charade, it’s as confected as the outrage from Mark Whearem, or the Green spin over preferences.
And what’s with being sensitive, both in the usual or more technical senses of the word? Better than being INsensitive…
I will never vote Labor ever again! After the last few years of Rudd, Gillard and Rann’s South Australia, that is it! Even my local council was taken over by the Right-wing Catholic faction of the ALP and funded by a particular right-wing union! It is sad when the Liberal candidates are somtimes ‘more liberal’ than some of the Labor candidates. I will continue to vote for the Greens and it is only a vast disappointment that I have to preference either Labor or Liberal, ultimately on the ballot paper to ensure a formal vote.
Hey Lukas
We don’t believe you!
Your party is infested with homophobes and Bible Bashers.
Homophobic? What else do you call someoene who voted to strip workplace protections from the Equal Opportunity Act, for those who are same-sex attracted. Economic vandal? You guessed it. We now have a situation where not the best qualified and experienced person can get a job in the multi-billion dollar government funded community sector, but most significant requirement is they are not same-sex attracted. Even Clem Newton-Brown falls into that gay bashing catagory of polly, along with this tool.
Good to see you have covered all the bases in your reply Lukas, as a gay man I think you would be out raged over the fact his reply was so “knock-about” in the first place, considering Labor is getting into bed (again) with a political group who do not like the gay community one bit, and would more than likely over turn or block any advancements for equality for the GLBTI community the Labor pus forward, including gay marriage . And that was what the email was about. Not the Greens. So yes, I was angered at his reply on a few levels, including being accused as being a faked Green email. Also my email made ref to me being gay…so he surely knew what word would or couldn’t get a kick. When he sent the first email back to me i replied “”my skirt” wow…” With Joes next reply being “Oh, what a witty retort!” Did he really think it was a “green wash” email? He seemed to stop replying to me when I asked him to prove his accusation that it was a green wash email and after the editor of this fine newspaper had left a message at his office. So I do not think you trying to come to the rescue of Joe as an ex Labor member who once worked for Joe and now votes Greens really washes that well…please is he the godfather of your dog as well? Funny also you have mentioned gender too along with fish…trying to shut the gate before that horse bolts too? As yes the comment can come across as sexist not sure how animal liberation or fish manglers people would find this comments offending but smart to cover ya bases …
As a person who has worked with Joe Helper MP on a professional level, I can categorically deny that he is homophobic.
While his views may not be one I share as an ex-Labor Party Member and gay man who now votes Green, I can say that his turn of phrase is very ‘knock-about’ Joe, and had absolutely nothing to do with gender, sexuality or even the price of fish.
Mr Whearem really needs to harden up a little and stop taking offence so easily.