Letters to the editor

NO LONGER GAY

Regarding the headline ‘Our new enemy’ (SSO 1058), who needs to worry about some religious zealot and madman when Mardi Gras should be questioning itself?

Mardi Gras has not been a gay event for years. Most of the participants in the parade now are straight (70 percent at least). It does not reflect, represent the gay community at all.

It is an elitist organisation run by big business and sponsors. So how can Michael Rolik say that Mardi Gras promotes and celebrates the visibility of our community? Could not be more worn if he tried. We are more invisible than ever.

He even mentioned in fg magazine that the parade is the heart and soul of the organisation, not the heart and soul of the gay community. It says a lot about Mardi Gras and who it represents.

Bring back the gay village, clean up Oxford St and bring back Mardi Gras for the gay community.

— John

ANTI-CHILD VIEWS

Another stab at families by a child-hating Grumpy Old Poof (SSO 1057), this time at gestational surrogates who kindly facilitate the creation of the ultimate dream, genetic immortality.

The first cinematic surrogacy representation was in The Birdcage where a gay couple had a son by a GS. From the forefront of cultural change these anti-child views in SSO have regressed gay freedom to another ‘untermenschen’ subhuman person.

Why has Doug Pollard lined up with fascist politicians in the Greens and the ALP to denigrate those people who wish to express their life in children?

— John

ELECTION NERVES

I’m getting nervous about the state election in March. Labor has delivered a same-sex partnership register and same-sex adoption.

But what will Barry O’Farrell do? Is he likely to succumb to the energetic religious opposition of such people as David Clarke who opposes both? He hasn’t uttered any policy beliefs, although he did vote for adoption.

Paul Pearce, the present member for Coogee, made a strong speech in favour of adoption and voted for it. Paul has been known to express independent views, and to act independently.

Will the Liberal candidate for Coogee be able to make himself heard above the religious right? Barry has already promised to do away with ethics classes. What else has David Clarke in mind?

— Joan

DICTATOR

In regards to Christian Democratic Party candidate Peter Madden, he basically wants to send us to hell.

Well, I say to hell with him! Will they ever learn?

Dictators inflict their opinions and beliefs upon others — not Australian politicians.

Sporting that fake Austin Powers smile, he calls himself a man of God, when he doesn’t even understand the spirit of humanity.

His conscience will be the final dictator. I’m sure of that.

— Kiros

HIV CURE #1

Good job guys, keep hope alive. Someday a HIV cure will be here for sure.

HIV will be history. However, the fear is, if a cure is found, will those working in HIV-related fields be willing to disclose it and lose the billions they are accessing?

— Emmanuel

HIV CURE #2

I’m actually a distant relative of Walter and Eliza Hall (on my mother’s side). It’s quite exciting to learn my family may play a part in the discovery of a cure for AIDS! Let’s be cautiously optimistic, and hope this does not turn out to be a dead end.

— Eligius

DANGEROUS PLANS

Reports that the Victorian Government is planning to restore an unfettered right to religious organisations to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity before new equal opportunity laws have even come into force are confounding and more than a little dangerous.

Having recently promised $4m to combat suicide among same-sex attracted and trans young people, this latest proposal flies in the face of all research (of which there is much) demonstrating a clear link between discrimination, harassment and poor mental health — especially among younger people.

Perhaps this move is not so surprising given the state’s new protector of human rights, Attorney-General Robert Clark, described homosexuality in 1995 as “foolish”, “destructive” and more harmful than smoking. Let’s hope the new EOA is not pronounced DOA like far too many of our young people.

— Jason