Council step aside
UPDATE 8/9: Mt Isa Council has given the official go-ahead for Sunday’s Equal Love rally to take place in Mt Isa.
Protest organiser James Newburrie received the confirmation in a letter today.
However, Newburrie had less success addressing council at a meeting this week. He spoke to call on councillors to pass a motion condemning the “recent behaviour” of Kennedy MP Bob Katter, saying Katter had vilified homosexuals.
After being interrupted several times Newburrie’s request was eventually dismissed by Mt Isa Mayor John Molony.
__
The Mt Isa marriage equality rally outside federal MP Bob Katter’s electorate office — scheduled for this Sunday, September 11 — will go ahead thanks to backing from the Australian Sex Party.
The Australian Sex Party has thrown its support behind marriage equality advocate and Mt Isa resident James Newburrie in a letter sent at the weekend.
Sex Party convenor Fiona Patten said the party was happy to support the event and offered to auspice the rally to cover its public liability insurance obligations.
“Mr Katter first got it wrong when he said that there were no gay people in his electorate and he has it wrong now,” Patten said.
“There is support in the community for changes to the Marriage Act.”
Newburrie welcomed the Sex Party’s assistance and said he hopes the event will show same-sex attracted teens living in the isolated mining town that they are not alone.
“Nothing like this has been done in Mt Isa before, so I don’t know how many people will join me,” he said.
“It may just be one short fat guy with a sign.”
Last week the Star Observer reported the Mt Isa City Council would not let the rally take place unless Newburrie had appropriate insurance coverage and a police permit.
Newburrie said local police had given him the okay, but found he was unable to access public liability insurance coverage as an individual.
Queensland’s Peaceful Assembly Act requires organisers of public rallies to seek permission from both police and local authorities.
Newburrie is still required to await the council’s official approval to stage the event.
Just be careful of these regional Queenslanders…especially if you venture into the far-right west, or into the deep north.
There are plenty of welcoming people out there as Tourism Queensland claims. There are just as many Gay haters out there too.
I was told, “you were ok until you came out from under the carpet”.
“Just lay down and pretend that you are a heterosexual”.
The local Fundamentalist preacher at Longreach, informed the Media that I was a “child molester”. Just because I way Gay.
Just sayin!
I hope they bring some shoes for Bob Katter to talk backwards to Bourke, along with a lying jar for a donation for the local GLBTI group. These would be best presented in the light of the flashing cameras, Bob Katter style.