Soldiers outed on Facebook

At least 80 current and former Australian Defence Force personnel signed up to a Facebook page created to out and denigrate gay colleagues.

The Star Observer was made aware of the page by an anonymous tipster who created a YouTube video featuring screenshots from the Facebook page, including the names of 50 of the page’s friends. The video was still online when SSO went to press.

Created in early 2010 under the name Steve Austin, the page’s bio read: “This page has been created to inform current and past serving members of the ADF who is biting the pillow.

“Below in the quotations is a list of names of current serving members of the ADF who are homosexual. I feel I have to make you aware of their lifestyle decision.

“It is your right to know who is biting the pillow. If you know any more bum bandits getting around in the ADF, shoot me an email.”

The page goes on to describe homosexuality as a “filthy lifestyle decision”.

Another screenshot shows the page with 80 friends and contains posts naming an individual as “a number one offender” and another with a video post in which accompanying text names an ADF member as a “poo pirate”.

SSO understands that six gay ADF personnel were named and denigrated through the page, which our source claimed included “videos and comments contain[ing] extreme racist, anti-gay, anti-Semitic, anti-democracy, and pro-terrorism content”.

“Some members of this group wore uniform and carried weapons in the photos associated with the site,” our source said.

The Facebook page was taken down in August last year, but later replaced with another called ‘Gay in the ADF’ which was also taken down.
The source says a larger group of ADF personnel had been invited to ‘friend’ the page but declined without alerting their superiors.

The ADF did not respond to a list of questions from SSO before press time, despite initially agreeing to comment.

A friend of one of those outed by the Facebook page said his friend received a death threat in his work email, as well as a threatening note delivered to his house, after he was outed.

The revelations follow allegations this week that an 18-year-old male cadet was anally raped with a broomstick after he came to the aid of a female colleague in 1989, but this had not stopped the alleged offenders from rising to senior roles in the ADF.


You May Also Like

11 responses to “Soldiers outed on Facebook”

  1. This is a clear breach of personal and privacy rights…I do not agree that with previous comments made that staff in other workplaces would be given a warning for such a thing.

    This is a matter that now exposes these people to life threats, potentially from people that are trained to harm.

    It is really challenging to still be living in a world where gay people are forced to face such discrimination.

    May we all realize that it is simple to start world change….as you can do it at any moment.

  2. the real people who should lose their jobs are the administration of facebook and youtube. Life was much better before that social networking crap. The whole thing is designed for peeping toms who have no life.

  3. @Andrew, you are simply wrong. New laws in Victoria mean that in any workplace similar behaviour would in fact attract a gaol term; so it is a criminal matter, not a “civil matter”. Get with the times!

    Also, the fact that it is the ADF makes it much worse than if it were just at Coles or somewhere. These guys are so often considered national heros – this behaviour tarnishes the reputation of the whole force. It is very different to a civil workplace.

  4. @Andrew actually a lot of people lose there jobs over facebook comments, so why do these guys get off? The ADF is not run by some the local supermarket manager. It has acted against the law. The ADF is part of the Aus Government (and a huge employer) didn’t do what they were expected to protect it’s staff. And btw that last line, so you hate arabs… I can’t see why you would this forum for racism or how racial vilification of “people form the middle east” got passed the moderator.

  5. No Andrew, they do deserve to lose their jobs. Remember they are persecuting their workmates by outing them and verbally abusing them. If such verbal abuse, digital or not, was happening in any workplace, including that of a shopping attendant, then those engaging in the abuse would be sacked. Nobody at work, who is a student, or even in public, should be bullied because of the way they are born. I am sure you would also tolerate such a site if it had been targeting Aboriginal or female soldiers…No?

  6. If you were a shopping trolley attendant and created such a Facebook page, does anyone think they should lose their jobs? I don’t think so. If they have done something wrong it would be a civil matter which it is not. Regardless how different your view maybe on the matter, everyone has the right to speak their mind regardless if you disagree with them. Even though I’m not a fan, that includes those from the middle east.

  7. The only ‘bum-bandits- in the the ADF are the red-hats who allegedly raped and victimized other male officers. They risk being ‘outed’ and leaving the ADF in disgrace, in spite of their ‘chest-confetti’ and decorations. But does Smith have the determination to protect young men at risk from bullying and bastardization in the ADF? He has no trouble getting on his white charger and protecting women. Six inquiries but none to investigate violence against men, only women.

  8. What is so deplorable is Julia Gillard not having an investigation and taking disciplinary action against those responsible for disgracing the Australian Defence Force.

    Gillard should be sacked over this disgrace.

  9. These loonies should not be allowed near firearms or explosives. Typing and filing might be suitable, unless illiteracy is a problem.