Spokesperson for the No campaign calls homosexuality “disordered”

Spokesperson for the No campaign calls homosexuality “disordered”
Image: Straight Pride. Image: Facebook / Truth Factor.

A leading spokesperson for the No campaign has gone off script in a radio interview, calling homosexuality a “disordered form of behaviour” and relating it to Biblical tales of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The No campaign has been forced to distance itself from the comments David van Gend made on Vision Christian Radio, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

The Coalition for Marriage spokesperson and Toowoomba doctor referred to the appearance of Father Frank Brennan on Monday night’s Q&A.

“He seemed to be… apologising for the Bible, apologising for the Catholic catechism and basically saying that [homosexuality] is really not that bad, we shouldn’t be using words about homosexual behaviour like the traditional teaching that it’s a disordered form of behaviour,” van Gend said.

He said same-sex attraction doesn’t define a person and is different to gay “behaviour”.

“If someone has same-sex attraction that is just a curious part of their make-up, it is not who they are. And what’s more, being same-sex attracted carries absolutely no moral blame, it is no one’s fault, it is just one of these puzzling phenomena,” he said.

“Whereas by contrast sexual behaviour, for any of us, is a choice, and we are culpable for the sexual behaviour we might choose to do. And for Christian people it’s pretty darn simple—no sexual behaviour is on at all, and that’s for all of us, unless it is within the faithful unconditional commitment of man-woman marriage. End of story.”

Van Gend’s remarks diverge from the message of the No campaign, which has avoided discussing same-sex marriage or homosexuality, instead focusing on Safe Schools and other supposed consequences of marriage equality.

Another Coalition for Marriage spokesperson, Monica Doumit, said van Gend’s comments do not represent the organisation.

“I didn’t hear the interview, but I can confirm that the is not the position of the Coalition for Marriage,” she said.

“We will not be asking Dr van Gend to retract his comments. Like all Australians, he is entitled to hold and express views.”

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4 responses to “Spokesperson for the No campaign calls homosexuality “disordered””

  1. As a father, grand-dad & great grand-dad and a gay man in a wonderful long term relationship and nearly 70 if to be “ordered” I must be “controlled & limited” by old men’s religious fantasies then let me be part of this “disordered tribe”. Let us all own the “disordered tribe label” celebrate our difference and our lives and cast this “order” person’s views to the depths of a pit where they belong.

  2. David Van Gend appears not to be up to date with his own professional standards. Last time I looked at DSM 5 homosexuality was not listed as a disorder. Bit of a worry, perhaps not your first port of call when you have the flue.

  3. That’s the softest repudiation of anyone’s hateful lies I’ve ever read. A new proud record for the No campaign.