Leader Of Opposition Tony Abbott Adds To Issue Of Homophobia In Australia
Posted: 8th Mar 2010 Author: Michelle Penny Topics: Homophobia
Tony Abbott, the current Leader Of the Opposition in the Australian House of Representatives and potential prime minister has done nothing to help the issue of homophobia in Australia by responding to questions about homosexuality in an interview with Australia’s Channel 9′s 60 Minutes program that:
“I probably feel a bit threatened, as so many people do. It’s a fact of life. I try to treat people as people and not put them in pigeonholes.”
Leading him to face angry protests from the LGBT community in Australia who see his views as being dangerous, one gay rights campaigner, Gary Burns, went as far to say that the politician was acting like an “imbecile” and that “I think poor old Tony thinks it’s 1956…. “This is the 21st century.” Going on to further criticise Abbott’s choice of words Burns questioned:
“Why is he using such dangerous words? How could he feel threatened? You know what I’m frightened by? Funnel-web spiders and crocodiles.”
Whilst fierce in his criticism Burns however said he would happily spend time with Abbott to show him that members of the LGBT community were hard working Australians and nothing to be scared of.
The convener of the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights, Anthony Bendall, has also added his voice to the criticism directed at Tony Abbott saying he should have kept his personal views to himself as they weren’t useful to teens struggling with their sexuality, stating:
“It certainly isn’t a very helpful comment in terms of trying to eliminate discrimination and homophobia,”
