Shame on you Abbott: PFLAG
Parents, friends and relatives of gay and lesbian people are being encouraged to register their disgust with Tony Abbott’s office over comments made on 60 Minutes that he and most Australians “feel confronted” by gay people.
National PFLAG spokeswoman Shelley Argent condemned the comments saying the sentiment was based on myth.
“Tony Abbott is typical of people who choose to believe the myths and outdated beliefs,” she said.
“As a hopeful leader of this country he should be promoting understanding and accepting not feeding the fear mongers who oppress this minority group by continuing the belied that our sons and daughters are second rate and to be feared.
“In reality our gay sons and lesbian daughters have more to fear from the heterosexual community either by gay bashing, verbal abuse and ignorance, such as this, that continues in this country.”
info: Tony Abbott can be contacted at PO Box 6022. House of Representatives. Parliament House. Canberra ACT 2600. Or email [email protected].
Imagine the outcry if Abbott had used the same reference towards Muslims, Buddhists, Jews or Anglicans. Or if he had said it about a particular race such as the First Australians, Arabs, Chinese, Germans or whoever. The outrage from the community at large would be deafening in its magnitude. I am really sick of public figures making these kind of outrageous statements. Despite my concerns over civil liberties, I am starting to think that we need much tighter anti-vilification laws for public figures, like Abbott, who chose to denigrate us.
A post script to the above. The email address: ‘[email protected]’, as stated in your article does not operate.
To forward an email you will have to endure the mechanism on:
http://www.tonyabbott.com.au/Pages/contact.aspx
Copy of email forwarded (and pro-forma for email forwarded to Network 9, Sixty Minutes):
“Re: 60 Minutes interview via Liz Hayes, viewed 05/03/20010
10/03/10
The Hon Tony Abbott MHR
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
Federal Member for Warringah
Abbott, you disposition of politician predisposes you to an absence of any semblance conscious development. In the fore-mentioned scenario your reflected development is derived you