Homophobic letter ruffles feathers

A homophobic letter published in the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader has angered members of the local community.

“It’s a decadent lifestyle” by “C.Street of Gymea” referenced a 5 July article published in the Leader, “Tolerance Lacking” – about the acceptance of homosexuality in the area.

Tolerance was a “buzzword” in society, according to “C.Street”.

“We are asked to be tolerant of the homosexual lifestyle, but the dangers and health risks of homosexual behaviour are well documented,” the letter read.

“Praise should be what is given to those who stand to resist this decadent lifestyle.”

St George resident, Dimitri Kourutz said the “veiled hate letter” was offensive.

The editor of the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, Albert Martinez, said those at the Leader did not share the views of “C.Street”.

A number of other letters along the same lines were received, he said, but they were not fit to be published.

A spokesman for the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Ghassan Kassisieh, said it was “fair enough” for a local paper to present the view of people in their area.

“As long as it’s a letter that doesn’t incite violence it can open up the opportunity for debating homophobia,” he said.

“The paper has done a great job of exposing the level of homophobia in the southern suburbs of Sydney.”