Liberal MP Kevin Andrews denies condoning gay conversion therapy
Image: Kevin Andrews. Image: Facebook / Kevin Andrews.
Activist group GetUp has called on Liberal MP Kevin Andrews to condemn gay ‘conversion therapy’, refusing to retract their statement that he has allegedly supported the practice until he does.
In the lead up to the federal election, GetUp’s conversation guides for supporters advise them to tell voters that Andrews allegedly “advocated for discredited, damaging and cruel gay conversion therapy”, according to The Australian.
Andrews has denied ever speaking or writing on the matter, and warned GetUp that he considers the claim defamatory.
“If Kevin Andrews wishes to now correct the public record and offer his public opposition to the damaging practice of gay conversion therapy, we will happily amend our script to voters in his electorate,” said a spokesperson for GetUp.
“We will instead reference his long history of outdated and damaging views on the LGBTQI community.’’
Andrews has a history of poor support for the LGBTI community, including abstaining from voting on same-sex marriage after years of speaking out against it.
He last year convened an anti–Safe Schools meeting in Hobart, where young people spoke of their experiences struggling with discrimination and attempting to change their sexuality.
Harmful conversion therapy for LGBTI people still exists in Australia and New Zealand, with a report last year identifying at least 10 organisations promoting it.
Several states have taken steps to outlaw conversion therapy, and other politicians have spoken out condemning the practice.
Just because a person is LGBTI doesn’t mean they are automatically supporters of the Labor Party. For decades older members of our community have had to vote for a party who at the time were deemed to be the lesser of the three evils. That is as true today as it ever was.
Of course Gay issues are important to us – but there are other issues no less important that cannot be overlooked either. After all, you can have all the gay rights and freedoms you like – but if the economy’s stuffed and you can’t get a job …so what!
Vote 1 Labor!