Australian Marriage Forum anti-equality ad — where do you stand?
AN Australian Marriage Forum television commercial that criticises marriage equality has sparked controversy after channels Seven and Nine aired the ad on the night of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, while SBS refused to broadcast it during its highlights coverage of the Parade on Sunday.
The ad asks viewers to “think of the children” by claiming that children from same-sex families are forced to “miss out” on having a mother or a father.
It quotes Dr David van Gend, a “family doctor” and the President of the Australian Marriage Forum (AMF).
“So-called marriage equality forces a child to miss out on a mother or a father,” he says in the ad.
“That’s not equality for the kids who miss out. That’s not marriage.”
SBS has come under fire for its decision to not air the ad on Sunday night, with some media commentators highlighting questions of freedom of speech and opinion.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national director Rodney Croome said in a press statement that the ad was “actually harming the many Australian children being raised by same-sex couples because it defends discrimination against their families”.
However, a Facebook post by AME this afternoon indicated a slight change of opinion by the organisation: it agreed with openly-gay WA Liberal Senator Dean Smith, who told Fairfax media that “obnoxious ads should be aired because they undermine the cause of their sponsors — the obnoxious views will be seen for what they are”.
“Fortunately Australia has come so far in this campaign that, at this point, he’s right,” AME’s Facebook post read in response to Smith’s comments.
“The overwhelming reaction has seen thousands speak up for equality and the dignity of all families.”
Meanwhile, the YouTube link for the AMF ad has received more that 10 times more “thumbs down” than it has for “thumbs up”.
In addition, at the time of print over 9200 people have signed a Change.org petition asking for the advertisement to be removed altogether.
Where do you stand on the controversial ad? Scroll down after the video to vote in our poll.
Watch the ad:
[socialpoll id=”2257264″]
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Those people who expected them to are absolute idiots! There’s no way sbs would ever air that
The AMF leader made reference to a study involving over 200,000 children and their poorer outcomes if from a same sex family. I cannot find it and I bet if it does exist it’s been carried out by a religious right wing faction and not peer reviewed by academia. On the other hand…http://m.smh.com.au/national/children-of-samesex-couples-thriving-study-20130605-2nqjy.html
If the ad made false claims is it then not suitable for broadcast?
I can’t put into words how offensive this ad is to me. Those people are on the same logic and evilness level as Dolores Umbridge.
Anastasia Beaverhausen – totally loving your name!!
I support SBS
Amongst my thoughts that this ad is just totally wrong on all levels, what is it going to promote for children who do have same sex mums and dads? Is it telling those who associate with these children that they are different, that they should not fit in? Im sorry, but in some standards this could encourage bullying!
All praise to SBS for not letting money triumph over moral judgement. Shame on the stations who sold themselves out for a few silver coins! And shame on all people who think that sexuality determines parenting commitment!
The stupidity of this ad: a) it assumes gay marriage will equal a family unit that includes children b) offends so many families sending the message that your ‘family’ is not ‘best for the children’ to single parents, grandparents bringing up grandkids, foster carers, women that have escaped domestic violence as well as same sex families with kids.
Funny how libertarians say this breaches freedom of speech, but when a commercial operator refuses to play an ad it’s their “commercial freedom” and choice to do so.
for those of us in regional Australia, this really makes it harder for us to meet someone let alone marry someone we love.
Why can’t people just be happy that love can still exist in this day and age no matter the sexual orientation of either side of the couple. Love is love, that’s the bottom line no matter what shape or form it comes.
Preserve us from moralizing, bible bashing bigots.
The ‘dr’ isn’t even a registered dr. Dr of bull shit.
There have been many studies all of which show children do excellent ‘normal’ with same sex parents. It would appear they don’t do well with small minded bigots as parents.
I think that if I tried to air anti-christian ads during christmas I would be subjected to death threats from god-fearing folk. So I think they should follow the good book, love their neighbours and shut the fuck up (this is only aimed at bigots – some christians are, of course, amazing accepting individuals)
There are “anti Christian ads” aired all the time all over the world – even at Christmas. And Christians are expected to just sit back and take it. Last year there was a billboard campaign with a child talking to Santa about how the biblical Christmas story was a fairy tale… don’t think they thought that one through.
They are not aired here in australia, EVER. and that it the country to which we are referring to here. If I am incorrect please refer me to an australian anti-christianity television ad so I may revise my opinion. But good luck finding one.
Steven Gibson-Ellis please do not call me a Moron, I don’t appreciate it and its very insensitive.
We all have a right to express our ideas and expressions but don’t attack me.
But as you started it is homophobia in its purest form and the people of Australia are smart enough to see that.
Its also not just homophobic, it attacks everyone that doesn’t have a nuclear family.
Because of this there has been a backlash from Australians after seeing the ad, its creating more supporters of our cause and that’s always a good thing.
Though I wish the ad never existed in the first place, its here and in the public. Let’s make the most of it and turn it back on the religious right.
Again, your hate towards me was uncalled for.
Well said James
How is me calling you a moron, any less offensive than a homophobic bigoted commercial, that you said only effects single parent and the wider community, YOU ARE A HOMOPHOBIC BIGOTED ASSHOLE
Steven you missed his point completely, take a step back and read his comments throughly.
James, I agree with you. As a member of the LGBTI* community who grew up in a single-parent household, I find the ad repulsive, but barring direct insults or calls to violence, they’re entitled to their opinion. And to be honest, I feel the same about a lot of things our politicians say and do.
There’s a fine line between not airing views considered offensive, and goverment censorship. I’m happy they didn’t air it, especially during Mardi Gras, but I’m not sure it was SBS’s call to make.
As an openly gay man, I’m deeply offended by this commercial and I think it should never be shown on television, all this does it say to same sex couples, that we are not good enough to be parents, and continues to perpetrate homophobia, we’ve endured insult after insult for yrs, and this just adds insult to injury, as a gay man, I never relinquished the right to be a father.
The argument that everyone has the right to their opinion and should be able to express it (argument used by the promoters of this ad) is rubbish in this case… This ad is not an opinion, it’s pure discrimination and hate speech… Not ok in Australia, and therefore shouldn’t be ok at any time on any station
It shows that the Australian Marriage Forum didn’t do their homework and aren’t basing their ad on facts of any kind.
Plus I would think it’s insulting to anyone who isn’t part of a straight mum-dad family, because they’ve painted them all with the same brush.
Every study I’ve read on the effects having Gay parents has on a child doesn’t reveal anything more detrimental than if they were raised by straight parents. They do just as well at school, they’re no more likely to be gay themselves, or end up in a life of crime or drugs or whatever. Actually if anything, the only particularly bad thing those studies really show is that the kids may be more likely to be picked on because of the shitty attitudes of others..!
10 times more people dislike the YouTube video than like it, so most people seem to think it’s bullshit :)
Total support
The ad should be illegal of course, but let them run it. It shows this loving christian group’s (ACL) true colours of hate and evil.
They should of run the ad, all it would of done is piss off single parents and the wider community
James you are a moron, this is nothing but institutionalized homophobic bigotry
Its hatespeech, pure and simple.
Humiliating and creating hate to children who have two dads, a single parent, or a big sister loving them and looking after them.
It couldn’t come at the worse time for me.
Its in sighting homophobia , makes Australia an absolute backward country ..
Shame on any station that airs it . Welcome to the 1940s of gay oppression …
Im concerned that tjey habe targetted innocent children who love their parents irrepsectivr of gender to make them feel inferior. I am also concerned that public vilification has been allowed to be aired.
look in your own back yard, your straight husband or brother and leave homosexual people alone. Get your facts straight.
Key message: From the evidence available, it is clear that with the exception of child sexual abuse, children are most likely to be abused or neglected by parents and/or caregivers.
How is a child of LGBTI parents going to feel when they see this ad?
If the creators of this ad actually cared about children, they never would have made the ad in the first place.
Aren’t these heterosexual two parent families the ones that break and abuse the most children??? Being part of the majority does not make you right, just scary Keep your bigotry to yourselves.
It was appropriate and appreciated that SBS did NOT air the ad.