Sharpe had enough of ‘fear campaign’

NSW Opposition Transport Minister Penny Sharpe has accused the anonymous backers of a truck featuring anti-gay advertising of “peddling myths and misinformation” about gay and lesbian people.

The truck was spotted in Gosford this week on its way north, amateur images of the truck went viral on social media platforms with users overwhelmingly expressing outrage.

Making its way to Queensland to target electorates with its anti-gay message in the run up to the Queensland election, the vehicle features mounted signage warning of the dangers of same-sex marriage to children.

The signage displays a grown man embracing a young male child and claims young children will be subjected to ‘homosexual sex-ed’ that it says is already happening in Europe and the US.

“They insinuate that marriage equality as a threat to the community and a threat to children,” Sharpe said in NSW Parliament last night.

“It’s nonsense. And deeply offensive.

“The campaign inflames prejudice, fear and hatred.”

Sharpe said the introduction of same-sex marriage would not affect what children are taught in schools.

“I’ve taken a look at the PDHPE [Personal Development, Health and Physical Education] curriculum available on the Department of Education website,” Sharpe said.

“There’s nothing in it that talks about “erotic diversity and promiscuity”, or “defiling” young minds.

“And I would hazard a guess, with a fair amount of confidence, that Minister Adrian Piccoli has no intention for this to change, whether or not the federal Parliament votes in support of marriage equality later this year.”

The truck is set to travel through Taree, Kempsey, Casino, Lismore, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, on its way to a major prayer rally at King George Square in the Brisbane CBD on March 22, two nights before the state election.

The truck’s signage directs readers to the Stand4Marriage.org.au website which is registered to Australian Heart Ministries and Warwick Marsh – the founder of the The Fatherhood Foundation.

Marsh was dumped as one of the Federal Government’s men’s health ambassadors in 2008 by then Health Minister Nicola Roxon over his anti-gay views

Failed NSW Christian Democratic Party candidate Peter Madden is also involved in the truck’s tour. His website has been calling for donations to assist its journey and explains the inspiration behind its message.

Following the Queensland election, the billboard truck will return to Sydney the following Sunday for a Stand4Marriage rally in Hyde Park North on Sunday April 1.