Roxon sacks homophobe
The sacking of the Federal Government’s recently named Men’s Health Ambassador, Warwick Marsh, for anti-gay advocacy work sent a message that homophobia was unacceptable.
But activists said more needed to be done to expose the lies and discredited research that was being peddled to politicians when deciding same-sex parenting rights.
The Gender Matters document and now the documents about marriage and sexual integrity are part of a broader agenda to impose conservative values on Australian societies and our parliamentarians, Australian Coalition for Equality spokesman Rod Swift said.
It should serve as a wake-up call to all groups that believe in plurality and freedom in our society that these groups are distorting political debate and we should make sure such documents don’t go unchallenged.
Swift and other gay rights advocates have begun debunking claims made in the documents sent to parliamentarians as several states continue to debate ongoing same-sex parenting reforms.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon took responsibility for the failure to vet the volunteer positions to the taxpayer-funded program.
These comments, relating in the main to homosexuality, are unacceptable and repugnant. I firmly disagree with the views expressed, she responded to Sydney Star Observer last week.
Mr Marsh has not repudiated his offensive comments. This makes his position as an Ambassador untenable and I have made a decision to dismiss him from this role.
But a second co-author of the report also named among six Men’s Health
Ambassadors had unequivocally disowned the views set out in the document and would remain.
[Barry Williams] has assured me of this directly, and has expressly stated this publicly. I accept his explanation.
Marsh hosted the 2004 Marriage Forum in Parliament House where Nicola Roxon first announced Labor would support a ban on same-sex marriage. Marsh and Williams also spoke at a rally against lesbian parenting reforms in NSW earlier this year.
The real issue here is that Roxon – having promised the world to the gay community to get our votes – appointed this man in the first place. And his mate, who also signed on to this homphobic claptrap was also appointed AND keeps his shiny New Labor job.
Is it a coincidence that this happened on the very day the anti-discrim laws were proclaimed?
Yet agian, we are shown that the ALP talks a good talk on gay rights at election time – and, to be fair, every 25 years or so they do something – but they really don’t like us very much at all.
We will likely have an ALP national government for 5 or 8 more years. They have to understand that they can’t take us for granted nor get away with stunts like this. Roxon has to go, if only to encourage her colleagues to take us seriously.
That idea has my vote.
I support that suggestion, I think it’s a fantastic idea.
You have my vote, Michael.
This is a high profile way to get rid of myths about gays and protect kids . Well done Michael .
One of the most shocking aspects of this scenario was the assumption that Gay men were far more likely to become child sex offenders.
Debunking that terrifying myth is easy. Police records and criminologists conclusively show that heterosexual men are the largest proportion of offenders while gay men are only a very small percentage.
However, when fear over the welfare of children is unleashed and directed at Gay people these false assumptions can leave a irrational impression which can manifest itself many years later and passed on to generation to generation .
!!! MARDI GRAS CHILD PROTECTION FLOAT !!!
Lets debunk that myth with a float at Mardi Gras dedicated to Child Protection done in a positive and educated manner with the full involvement of the media, Mardi Gras Organisers, PFLAG, our lovely Clover Moore, Government Child Protection services, community organisations such as Bravehearts, the Sydney Star Observer, Gay parent organisations, etc.
May even qualify for government and private sponsorship.
If the Gay people and their supporters of this city can put their zeal and spark towards this project then the benefits will be long term .
Who will take up the challenge?
! ! ! Come on S.S.O ! ! !
If your just an individual that agrees then here’s something you can do . Write a supporting comment. . . write to PFLAG. . . .write to your local member, the Lord Mayor, the Mardi Gras Committee . . .etc .
Speak to your friends and ask them to pass the Child Protection Mardis Gras Float idea around.
We can make it happen.
Always report all forms of child abuse immediately without hesitation.
Michael. Inner West.