[News] [Australia] Anti same-sex marriage flyer sparks controversy over its outrageous claims

[Stephanie Stevens]

NEWS.com.au, Australia


Anti same-sex marriage flyer sparks controversy over its outrageous claims

August 21, 2017 1:33pm

Ally Foster, news.com.au


A HIGHLY offensive anti same-sex marriage flyer has caused outrage after being dropped in a number of Sydney residents’ letterboxes over the weekend.

The A4 piece of paper was distributed to homes around Hurstville in Sydney’s south on Saturday morning, folded down the middle and printed with a slur of misleading information in both English and Chinese.

Marriage equality advocate Sally Rugg posted a picture of the letter on Twitter with the caption, “Some of the marriage equality ‘respectful debate’ in the letterboxes of Hurstville this morning”.

[Photo]



Sally Rugg @sallyrugg

Some of the marriage equality "respectful debate" in the letterboxes of Hurstville this morning.

Content warning on this, LGBT friends x

9:34 PM - Aug 18, 2017

The handout, which is filled with confusing spelling and grammatical mistakes, urges Australian’s to vote ‘No’ on the upcoming plebiscite, citing so many absurd and unfounded “facts” that the whole thing is almost laughable.

“Homosexuality is a tragedy of a family, a grave to the family bloodline, a curse of family sonlessness,” the letter stated.

The leaflet went on to explain the impact that legalising same-sex marriage will have on the safety of women using public toilets and changing rooms, connecting same-sex marriage to the eradication of separate public bathrooms.

This would apparently allow rapists to pose as “transsexual women” in order to enter female toilets, referred to as the “forbidden land”.

“For by then, there would be no separate public toilets, change rooms or shower rooms for the male and female, the transsexual ‘counterfeit’ women will be protected under the law, to enter the female toilets including those at schools legally,” the flyer claims.

“The number of victims being raped in public female changing rooms and bathrooms in those countries that has passed the Same Sex Marriage Legislation is a stunning fact to all!”

This “stunning fact” was of course not backed up with any statistical evidence.

Twitter users were quick to express their opinions of the ill-informed handout, many saying it made them feel “sick”, with one user asking: “Isn’t there a law against spreading lies, is this not vilification?”

“I’m torn between laughter and sadness and hate at how wrong, ignorant, how cruel, and how fearful this is,” said one person.

Another questioned why homosexual men and transwomen were the focus of the flyer: “Why do transmen not exist for these people? Or lesbians for that matter? #marriageequality”.

Labor Senator Jenny Mcallister replied to the post urging that any “offensive materials” regarding the same-sex marriage vote be submitted to be assessed during a senate inquiry into the survey that is taking place in February 2018.

18 Aug

Senator Mcallister @jennymcallister

Replying to @sallyrugg

I'm chairing a @AuSenate inquiry into the survey. Submit evidence re offensive materials here: http://bit.ly/2iebwKD  #auspol #ME

Senator Mcallister @jennymcallister

Very important that parliament has comprehensive picture of how this #MarriageEquality survey impacts #LGBTIQ community. #auspol @sallyrugg

11:29 PM - Aug 18, 2017

One of the few pieces of factual information in the pamphlet is the important dates relating to the postal vote.

The same sex marriage survey forms will begin to be mailed out on September 12 and must be returned before November 7.

You must be enrolled to vote by August 24 to participate in the postal survey.


http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/gay-marriage/anti-samesex-marriage-flyer-sparks-controversy-over-its-outrageous-claims/news-story/60b2a70feb0370a09777e136b7476716