The sex continuum and gender fluidity

The sex continuum and gender fluidity


For years, LGBTIQ+ people have been fighting for acceptance, recognition, equity and respect. While there have been improvements, there are still some people who argue that there are only two genders and that this is supported by science. However, what theynet are talking about is sex rather than gender. Gender is about roles, identity and expression. The World Health Organization provides the following description of gender.

'Gender refers to the socially constructed characteristics of women and men, such as norms, roles, and relationships of and between groups of women and men. It varies from society to society and can be changed' (World Health Organization).

Gender development is not straight forward. It is complex with many possible variations that are influenced by a multitude of factors, including hormones or conditions such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) which causes a high level of male hormones in females, resulting in female genitalia often being mistaken for male genitalia  (NHS 2016).

Sex is binary in its most basic form, that is, male and female. But .... that doesn't exclude variations. Males and females have 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46 chromosomes. Of these, 22 pairs are identical between males and females. The remaining pair are called the 'sex chromosomes' and in females, they are both X chromosomes, whereas in males, one is an X and one is a Y chromosome (U.S. National Library of Medicine 2019).

However, not everyone is born this way. Some males are born with three X chromosomes, some females are born with a Y chromosome. Some people are born with a physical characteristics of male and female, although it may not be readily identified at birth, or even until much later in life. These people are called intersex. It is estimated that 1 in 1500 people are intersex (Newman 2018).

The following diagram of the 'Genderbread Person', provides an excellent and simplistic guide to sex, gender, identity and expression.

www.ItsPronouncedMetrosexual.com

Just because there's black and white, doesn't mean that colours don't exist. As a result of the variety of sex combinations available through various chromosomal combinations, some scientists have suggested that sex should be considered a continuum, rather than a binary construct (Newman 2018). Similarly, gender identity has a myriad of combinations. The following diagram illustrates some gender combinations.

Science may support two sexes, however, it also supports a spectrum of sex and gender formations and identities. Intersex, by definition, means 'between the sexes', which indicates that sex is not a binary construct; it doesn't have just two options. Unfortunately, understanding nuance is not the forte of conservatives. Many of them have the attitude that intersex is some new fad, even though the number or type of chromosomes one has is not something that one chooses ... and it's been this way for millennia.

Source: Lee (2017)

In terms of hormones, people have testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone. Females tend to have higher levels of oestrogen and progesterone, while males tend to have higher levels of testosterone. But this isn't the case for all. There are men with higher levels of oestrogen and progesterone, while some females are born with higher levels of testosterone.

People are a complex mixture of genes, chromosomes and hormones. Each of these will impact whether a person is male, female or somewhere in-between, whether they are attracted to the same sex, opposite sex or have no sexual attraction, whether they identify with the sex they were apparently born with, or identify some other way ... or any combination not already mentioned.

Sex is a spectrum and gender is fluid, with both presenting in multitudes of ways. This can be confusing for those who only think in black and white, who can't see colours or nuance, who refuse to look outside their own ignorance.

Some conservative or religious people may find that the sex continuum and gender fluidity do not fit their narrow world view, however, not everything can be slotted into some cookie-cutter mould defined by religion or ignorance. Sadly, this has manifested itself through rejection, hate, violence, forced 'medical' treatment, 'conversion' therapy and other harmful practices.

Back in 1967, a quaint, psychedelic British band recorded a song called 'Incense and Peppermints', which had the following timeless lyric that is as relevant now as it was then:

Beatniks and politics, nothing is new
A yardstick for lunatics, one point of view

It's hard to believe that more than 50 years later, there are still people with such narrow world views about sex and gender, while following ultra-conservative politicians and preachers who border on the lunatic.

There's nothing wrong with having a narrow world view, but there is something wrong when this manifests in ways that try to force those views on others. For thousands of years, LGBTIQ+ people have been reviled by others. Of course, not all societies were like that. Some celebrated or revered those who were non-binary or had a gender variance. For instance, North American indigenous communities held 'two-spirit' people, those with male and female spirits, in significant regard (Enos 2017).

Many nations persecute people for their sexuality and gender identity. There are 75 jurisdictions that criminalise same-sex sexual activity between men, 45 jurisdictions that criminalise lesbianism, 12 jurisdictions that impose the death penalty for same-sex activity and another six jurisdictions where the death penalty is a possibility, while 15 jurisdictions criminalise transgender behaviours (Human Dignity Trust n.d.).

Even in countries were it is not criminalised, LGBTIQ+ people face rejection, discrimination and persecution. This was evidenced in Australia during the debate over whether to legalise same-sex marriage. While it was eventually legalised, the arguments were particularly toxic, with there being numerous attacks on LGBTIQ+ people and numerous religious leaders declaring it to be immoral and a threat to the welfare of children. Numerous church leaders said they welcomed gay people as long as they were not engaging in same-sex sexual activities. Imagine the message that this sends to LGBTIQ+ people. It is saying that they are unable to be 100% themselves, they can't bring their whole self to church, to work, or even within their families.

This rejection has a significant impact on the mental health of LGBTIQ+ people. Imagine how it must feel to not be able to discuss what you did on the weekend because it involved your partner and you knew that this would result in you being ostracised, judged, rejected. The first country to legalise same-sex marriage was the Netherlands in 2001. Since then, several other countries have followed, but there is still significant ostracising of and violence against LGBTIQ+ people, resulting in them being more susceptible to anxiety, depression, homelessness, self-harm and suicide. LGBTIQ+ youth often have 'elevated rates of emotional distress, symptoms related to mood and anxiety disorders, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior when compared to heterosexual youth', with them experiencing three times the likelihood of suicide compared to heterosexuals (Russell & Fish 2016).

Conversely, where there is acceptance of LGBTIQ+ people, there is less mental health issues, less homelessness, few incidents of self-harm. For instance, in 1985, Denmark became the first country in the world to legalise civil unions, and Sweden followed in 1995. Since then, both countries have legalised same-sex marriage, resulting in the number of suicides of lesbians and gay men almost halving (Wakefield 2019)

When Australia implemented anti-bullying programs in schools, there was a backlash by religious fundamentalists who were convinced that this would turn children gay. Yet, this backlash was the very issue that the anti-bullying programs were trying to address. Studies have found that where schools have such anti-bullying programs and affirm student's sexual and gender identities, there are fewer reports of homophobic victimisation, assault and harassment, while LBGTIQ+ students feel safer and are less susceptible to depression, substance abuse and self-harm than in schools which don't have these programs (Russell & Fish 2016).

This affirmation of identity enables LGBTIQ+ people to be their whole selves without fear. They can go to school, work, church, family, and social situations without feeling the need to hide their sexuality or gender identity.

In 1970, the world's first gay pride parade was held in New York City, on the 12 month anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, in which members of the gay community rioted in protest against ongoing police harassment following a raid on a gay nightclub, the Stonewall Inn (History.com 2019).

Gay pride movements sprang up across the globe to combat the homophobia, harassment and rejection that LGBTIQ+ had experienced for so long, and to provide a safe place for people to be who they truly are without fear.

But the ignorance remains. Homophobic bigots have attempted to hold 'straight pride' rallies and think that gay pride is there for LGBTIQ+ people to force others into their 'lifestyles'. The bigots are the ones who are forcing others into their lifestyles, LGBTIQ+ people simply want the same rights and opportunities. They express it as pride, because for far too long they were made to feel ashamed of who they are, to hide who they are. They were subject to violence, persecution, arrest, vilification. They were told that their natural sexuality and identities were sins. They were told that they were abominations. There are some bigots who still claim this. Straight people have never been arrested or vilified for being 'straight', they have never been made to feel ashamed of their sexuality or gender identity and expression. They have never been in a situation where they cannot talk about their partner.

Thankfully, the world is changing and the dinosaurs who try to force their bigoted views on others are in the minority. Sadly, these dinosaurs continue to cause significant trauma to others. They argue that there is a 'gay agenda' to dismantle society's traditional values. They victimise LGBTIQ+ people in the name of their religion or conservative, archaic 'values', then when they are called out for their homophobia they squeal as though they are the victims.

Gender is fluid and sex is a spectrum, as evidenced by numerous scientific studies and regardless of whether or not some people can comprehend this.

Accepting the facts and accepting people for they are will not destroy society, but will improve it, enabling everyone to live their lives openly and fully. The only 'gay agenda' is one of acceptance, equality and equity.


References

Enos, T 2017, '8 Things You Should Know About Two Spirit People', Indian Country Today, 29 March, viewed 18 January 2020, https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/archive/8-things-you-should-know-about-two-spirit-people-294cNoIj-EGwJFOWEnbbZw.

History.com 2019, Gay rights, 3 July, viewed 18 January 2020, https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/history-of-gay-rights.

Human Dignity Trust n.d., Map of Countries that Criminalise LGBT People, viewed 18 January 2020, https://www.humandignitytrust.org/lgbt-the-law/map-of-criminalisation/.

Lee M, 2017, 'How many genders are there? Two. Sort of.', Medium, 31 October, viewed 24 November 2019, https://medium.com/@cultureshock/how-many-genders-are-there-9a2aa6e82151

Newman T, 2018, 'Sex and gender: what's the difference', Medical News Today, 7 February, viewed 24 November 2019, http://medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232363.php.

NHS 2016, Gender dysphoria - Overview, 12 April, viewed 18 January 2020, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gender-dysphoria/.

Russell, S & Fish, J 2016, Mental health in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth, 28 March, Annual review of clinical psychology Vol 12, pp. 465-487, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4887282/

U.S National Library of Medicine 2019, Your guide to understanding chromosomes - how many chromosomes do people have?, 12 November, viewed 24 November 2019. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/basics/howmanychromosomes

Wakefield, L 2019, 'Same-sex marriage in Sweden and Denmark has reduced the number of lesbians and gay men dying by suicide by almost half', 14 November, viewed 18 January 2020, https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/11/14/same-sex-marriage-in-sweden-and-denmark-has-reduced-the-number-of-lesbians-and-gay-men-dying-by-suicide-by-almost-half/

World Health Organization n.d., 'Gender, equity and human rights', viewed 24 November 2019, https://www.who.int/gender-equity-rights/understanding/gender-definition/en/.

Abortion caution - patriarchy, pro-birthers and poverty

Abortion caution - patriarchy, pro-birthers and poverty

There are two issues that are guaranteed to mobilise the moralistic masses out of their social justice torpor: homosexuality and abortion. Recently, Australia saw these self-appointed guardians of morality taking time out from their bible studies and prayer groups where social justice is a dirty word, so they could attack marriage equality and bully LGBTIQ+ people while attacking anti-bullying programs such as Safe Schools. It's a pity these guardians of morality don't get as upset about the human rights abuses meted out by the Australian government as they do about people having the choice to marry whom they chose.

But abortion. The other moralistic meat. It is fodder to the self-righteousness of the pro-lifers ... or, more accurately, anti-abortionists ... because their idea of pro-life ends with birth as you will soon see. These anti-abortionists clapped and cheered and waved their flags when President Donald Trump stated he was going to cease funding health care providers around the world, if they gave advice about or provided abortions, even though evidence indicates an increase in backyard abortions when these programs are de-funded⁽¹⁾ and abortion is outlawed⁽²⁾.

Many of the anti-abortion brigade are Christians who will quote the bible as evidence of why abortion is bad. These are mainly scriptures about being formed in the womb, such as Psalm 139:13, 'For you created my in most being, you knit me together in my mother's womb', and Psalm 22:10, 'From birth I was cast on you; from my mother's womb you have been my God'. This scriptures are used by some Christians to argue that human life starts at conception, however, none of them address abortion - either in prohibiting it or in addressing the causes of abortion.

Anti-abortion Christians, often miss some critical scriptures; some to do with the horrid treatment of babies in the bible and some to do with reducing unwanted pregnancies and abortion. Firstly, the bible has some terrible examples of the treatment of children and babies. For instance, 1 Samuel 15:3 is one of many scriptures that advocates killing every man, woman and child.

Psalm 137:9 really sets the scene by declaring, 'happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against rocks'. I can't remember Dr James Dobson ever recommending this as an effective child-rearing technique, so hopefully no-one takes this scripture literally. As an interesting aside, that verse is in the same psalm that gave us the awesome Boney M song from the 1970s, Rivers of Babylon ... but I digress.

Numbers 5:11-31 prescribes abortion for unfaithful wives, or for wives whose husbands are jealous and merely suspect the wife of infidelity (even if the wife has committed no wrongdoing).⁽³⁾ Verses 30 & 31 state 'when the spirit of jealousy comes upon a man, and he becomes jealous of his wife; then he shall stand the woman before the Lord, and the priest shall execute all this law upon her. Then the man shall be free from iniquity, but that woman shall bear her guilt'. Note, these verses are printed in full at the bottom of this article. SO according to this scripture, if a man is jealous it is all the woman's fault (regardless of whether he has cause or not) and he can force her to have an abortion just because he is jealous - or at least drink poison that will mess up her ability to have kids if she isn't pregnant. She drinks the poison and if she cheated and is pregnant, she will have an abortion. What if she is pregnant to her husband and hasn't cheated? Are we to expect the magic potion can tell the difference? The abortion will happen anyway. The victims here are the wife and the fetus. The man gets away scot free for being unable to keep a lid on his jealousy. Sticking with songs of the 1970s, it's fortunate that John Lennon wasn't an advocate of this scripture ... he even wrote a song about being a Jealous Guy. Poor old Yoko could have found herself in a world of pain.

Numbers 5:11-31 applies to the woman's alleged infidelity. But what of the man's infidelity? This isn't a one off. Centuries later, Jesus rescues a woman who was about to be stoned for adultery. As it takes at least two to tango, where was the man with whom the woman allegedly committed this indiscretion? The society of the day was particularly paternalistic and gave women fewer rights than men. Perhaps referencing the values of such a patriarchal society is not the best thing when discussing a woman's choice to decide whether or not to have an abortion.

And then there's Hosea 13:16 which takes abortion, raises it to murder and then knocks it completely out of the park with 'Their infants shall be dashed in pieces, And their women with child ripped open'. This was a result of the hapless Samaria disobeying God. This disobedience thing comes at a high cost. Hosea 9:16, 'were they to bear children, I would kill the darlings of their womb'. Hmm ... forced abortion ... abortion is murder according to the anti-abortionists.

If one wishes to be anti-abortion, then clearly the bible is not the hallmark to use for defending the fetus.

Given the extremely patriarchal society described in the bible, it should not be used to justify legislation that affects a woman's right to chose what happens to her body. Women should have the right to chose whether or not they get an abortion. Not the church, not the self-appointed guardians of morality who will picket an abortion clinic while thanking God for a conservative government with the fortitude to torture and abuse asylum seekers fleeing persecution and war.

It is understandable that some people find abortion abhorrent and wish to stop it, after all, the fetus represents the potential for a life. But with backyard abortion rates increasing when abortion is banned, the so-called pro-life lobby needs to re-calibrate their position and look to the drivers of abortion if they truly want to stop it.

One of the main drivers of abortion is poverty, which affects the ability for people to afford contraception, thus increasing unwanted pregnancies, as well as the difficulty in meeting the cost of raising children; all of which contribute to an increased rate of abortion for poorer people⁽⁴⁾. It's interesting that many of the pro-life brigade are also opposed to welfare, increasing the minimum wage and penalty rates, Obamacare (or universal healthcare) and cheered on Trump's cuts to funding of programs across the globe that provided contraception and advice on safe abortions: all things that reduce the incidence of unwanted pregnancy, abortion and backyard abortions, thus resulting in fewer terminations and saving the lives of countless women. In fact, most of the pro-lifers aren't interested in the child once it's born. Instead of calling themselves 'pro-life', they should call themselves 'pro-birth', because that is where their concern ends.

Anti-abortionists are more concerned with arguing when life begins than in protecting life once it's born.

Anti-abortionists focus on banning abortion even though the evidence shows this is ineffective. Banning it is quick and easy, but drives it underground and makes the anti-abortionists feel like they are doing something. As long as they can't see it, anti-abortionists are happy. Out of sight, out of mind. So they're not really anti-abortion, they are anti-legal-abortion. If they really wanted to do something they would address the causes of abortion, not sweep it under the carpet. Addressing the causes is more difficult than simply banning it.

It's interesting that so many 'pro-lifers' reference the bible to support their anti-abortion stance, but ignore the scriptures that would actually reduce unwanted pregnancies and abortions. No, not the scriptures about remaining celibate! You know the scriptures. They're the ones that tell us to care for the poor, the widow, the orphan. Yet the moment that the government puts forward programs to do just that, these uber-religious types start looking for a socialist to crucify ... something like they did with Jesus a couple of millenia ago.

It's ironic that the only scriptures of the bible that will help reduce poverty and homelessness, and therefore reduce unwanted pregnancies and abortion, are the scriptures most often ignored by anti-abortion Christians.

References

1. World Health Organization, Eran Bendavid, Patrick Avila, Grant Miller, United States aid policy and induced abortion in Sub-Sahara Africa, 27 September 2011, http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/89/12/11-091660/en/. Accessed 28 December 2017.

2. The American Prospect, Nathalie Baptiste, This is What Happens When Abortion is Outlawed, 17 June 2015, http://prospect.org/article/what-happens-when-abortion-outlawed. Accessed 28 December 2017.

3. Bergant, D. and Karris, R., (1992). The Collegeville Bible Commentary: Old and New Testament Set. Liturgical Press, p. 156.

4. Guttmacher Institute, Heather D. Boonstra, Abortion in the Lives of Women Struggling Financially: Why Insurance Coverage Matters, 14 July 2016, https://www.guttmacher.org/gpr/2016/07/abortion-lives-women-struggling-financially-why-insurance-coverage-matters. Accessed 28 December 2017.



Numbers 5:11-31 (New International Version)


11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him 13 so that another man has sexual relations with her, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act), 14 and if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure— 15 then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of a tenth of an ephah[c] of barley flour on her behalf. He must not pour olive oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder-offering to draw attention to wrongdoing.

16 “‘The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the Lord. 17 Then he shall take some holy water in a clay jar and put some dust from the tabernacle floor into the water. 18 After the priest has had the woman stand before the Lord, he shall loosen her hair and place in her hands the reminder-offering, the grain offering for jealousy, while he himself holds the bitter water that brings a curse. 19 Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, “If no other man has had sexual relations with you and you have not gone astray and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you. 20 But if you have gone astray while married to your husband and you have made yourself impure by having sexual relations with a man other than your husband”— 21 here the priest is to put the woman under this curse—“may the Lord cause you to become a curse[d] among your people when he makes your womb miscarry and your abdomen swell. 22 May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells or your womb miscarries.”

“‘Then the woman is to say, “Amen. So be it.”

23 “‘The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash them off into the bitter water. 24 He shall make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and this water that brings a curse and causes bitter suffering will enter her. 25 The priest is to take from her hands the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the Lord and bring it to the altar. 26 The priest is then to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial[e] offering and burn it on the altar; after that, he is to have the woman drink the water. 27 If she has made herself impure and been unfaithful to her husband, this will be the result: When she is made to drink the water that brings a curse and causes bitter suffering, it will enter her, her abdomen will swell and her womb will miscarry, and she will become a curse. 28 If, however, the woman has not made herself impure, but is clean, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children.

29 “‘This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and makes herself impure while married to her husband, 30 or when feelings of jealousy come over a man because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand before the Lord and is to apply this entire law to her. 31 The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin.’”

Political Correctness - the go-to bugaboo of the perpetually offended

Political Correctness - the go-to bugaboo of the perpetually offended


Australia's conservative parties, including the reigning Liberal and National party coalition, as well as right-wing fringe dwellers, Pauline Hanson's One Nation and Cory Bernardi's Australian Conservatives, use fear to great effect in attracting people to them. Their chief bugaboos include Unions, Socialists, Islam, refugees, Safe Schools (ironically, an anti-bullying program), and the ill-defined-but-great-as-an-all-round-bad-guy 'Political Correctness'.

What is this evil and insidious beast known as 'Political Correctness'? Well, it is whatever the fear-adled right-wing say that it is; usually it's anything that they disagree with. In reality, this thing called political correctness is about treating people with respect and being sensitive to their situation or concerns. For example, once upon a time, people who were unable to speak, were called dumb. Some would even carry a sign around their necks stating that the wearer was dumb, or if they were particularly beset, the sign might state that they were deaf, dumb and blind. The politically correct term these days for people who can't speak, is 'mute', for blind it is 'vision impaired' and for deaf it is 'hearing impaired'. Similarly, people were once labelled as cripple or retarded, then they were called handicapped, now they are known as 'having a disability', or even as being 'able challenged'. Back in the day, jobs were often labelled with gender-specific titles, such as policeman, fireman or chairman. Now they are known as police officer, firefighter or chairperson. Homosexuals are known as gay or lesbian, or even LGBTIQ+, which recognises the variations in sexuality. Sex change is now known as gender reassignment. This be the evil beast of political correctness. End of the world, right? Sadly, too many right-wingers see it as such.

The right-wing claim that political correctness is an assault on freedom of speech and that it is a facade that hides the true meaning. Some will even say it is part of a larger conspiracy, for instance, to mask a 'gay agenda' to exterminate gender, make us all gay and end procreation as we know it by sprinkling gay fairy dust over our children. So the right-wing wish to call things as they see it, without some namby-pamby politically correct epithet. Unfortunately, the idea of being sensitive to other people is not a strong suit for the right-wing - when it suits them.

The right-wing trundle out political correctness in a self-righteous, smug way as though they are not riddled with such platitudes. They'll even bust out age-old invectives to prove their pride in being politically incorrect. However, the right-wing is riddled with its own version of political correctness. They will use terms that match their own political or world-view. For example, a white person who shoots up a school or concert is referred to as an 'armed assailant' or a 'gunman', but if a Muslim does it, they are labelled as an 'Islamic terrorist' without waiting for the motive to be determined. The leader of a country friendly to western nations, would be known as President or Prime Minister, however if the country's politics are contrary to western politics, the leader will often be referred to as a dictator or tyrant.

Recently, US President Donald Trump banned seven words from use by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2018 budget documents. The offensive words are 'vulnerable', 'entitlement', 'diversity', 'transgender', 'fetus', 'evidence-based' and 'science-based'⁽¹⁾. After all, we can't have a scientific organisation reporting on evidence-based programs in case it offends the perpetually outraged right-wing and disproves their flaky hold on the science of the natural world.

And god help anyone who dares to say 'happy holidays' at Christmas time. Some on the right-wing boycotted Cadbury's at Easter time because of the false reporting that Cadbury's had banned the word Easter from their Easter eggs. While some of Cadbury's products had removed the word 'Easter', or not prominently displayed it, some of this was on products sold all year around or which Cadbury felt was obvious that they were Easter eggs. Additionally, many of their products still had 'Easter' plastered all over them.⁽²⁾.

These days there are a lot of food products that allow for various dietary sensitivities, whether those be physical allergies (e.g. peanuts), physical sensitivities (e.g. gluten) or religious observances (e.g. halal and kosher). The right-wing had no concern with peanuts, gluten or kosher. However, when food companies started catering to Muslims by having products halal-certified, there was wailing and gnashing of teeth from the right-wing. There were petitions and boycotts against products such as Vegemite. The Islamophobes linked halal-certification to terrorism even though the Australian Crime Commission stated there was no evidence of direct links between halal-certification and terrorism⁽³⁾, a finding which was confirmed by a parliamentary inquiry⁽⁴⁾. But let not truth stop the right-wing from stirring up fear and hate in the community.

The way these right-wing fear-mongers and hate-preachers tell it, terrorism is the domain of Islam. Other non-Muslim groups who have used terrorism in their political aims are often referred to by the right-wing as separatists or rebels. This includes groups such as Basque 'separatists', Sandinista 'rebels', Tamil Tigers, right-wing military 'juntas' in Central and South America. And then there's the christian Phalangist Party in Lebanon who, under direction of Israel, unleashed the massacre of thousands of innocent civilians, including children and babies, in the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila in 1982. But that's ok because, you know ... Israel: God's chosen ... genocide doesn't count when God has tapped you on the shoulder ... and yet the rabid right will have the hide to accuse Palestinians of killing in the name of God, when it is clear that Israel is killing in the name of God to ethnically cleanse the 'Promised Land' of those pesky Palestinians who have lived there for thousands of years.

But as the old saying goes, 'one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter'. While a simplistic interpretation of terrorism, the saying does succinctly summarise the role that perspective has in terrorist activity. Scottish politician George Gallaway made a number of pertinent observations on this when he stated, 'One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. You are totally wrong in saying that in most people’s eyes Hezbollah are terrorists. In most people’s eyes Israel is a terrorist state. It’s the fact that you cannot comprehend that fact that leads to bias that runs through all of your reporting and every question that you’ve asked me in this interview!'. Galloway also stated, 'We want to make reparation to the Palestinian people for the crimes of Balfour which were committed in the building behind me, when one person, on behalf of one country, promised a second people the lands of a third people - the Palestinians. We are determined that we should stop the privatization of basic services of the British people. We are determined to defend the liberty of the British people which is being taken away day by day under the name of anti-terrorism. Ancient freedoms, which we had for hundreds of years, are being taken away from us under the name of the war on terror, when the real big terrorists are the governments of Britain and the United States. They are the real rogue states breaking international law, invading other people's countries, killing their children in the name of anti-terrorism, when in fact, all they're achieving is to make more terrorists in the world, not less, to make the world more dangerous, rather than less. These are our priorities'.

Another of Galloway's poignant criticisms of the west's role in terrorism, 'Stop invading Muslims lands! How can you expect Muslims to love you when you are forcefully occupying their lands and murdering their people?'.

Most terrorism has little to do with religion and more to do with land and power, for instance, the illegal theft and occupation of Palestine by Israel. It's easy for the right-wing to blame Islam while failing to look in the mirror at their own actions. Most of the leaders of western invasions and wars are christian, and many right-wing christian groups cheer on western military actions, as well as Israel's war-crimes in Palestine. For those who like to make terrorism about religion and who revel in xenophobia, Islamophobia, homophobia, Ellen G. White has a great comment, 'Christ tears away the wall of partition, the self-love, the dividing prejudice of nationality, and teaches a love for all the human family'.

Another target of the right-wing's political correctness sensitivity is Australia's public broadcasters, the ABC and SBS. Both have been criticised for promoting 'left-wing' agendas. The ABC has faced particular attacks on their alleged lack of bias. These attacks are by people who want to silence any opinion that differs to their own. It is clear that many of the people who attack the ABC do not listen to or watch it. The current affairs shows, such as Radio National's AM, PM and Breakfast, give equal voice to politicians from Labor and Liberal, in addition to the Prime Minister, the Deputy PM and the Treasurer, regular interviews are given to Matthias Corman and Christopher Pyne.

But why allow truth and balance to infiltrate the right-wing. The coalition government has appointed conservative reporters and critics of the ABC to influential positions, including former Liberal Party politician Janet Albrechtson appointed to the ABC panel⁽⁵⁾. This followed the controversial appointment of Michelle Guthrie as ABC Managing Director. While Guthrie was CEO for Rupert Murdoch's Star TV network, she had attempted to bypass China's media ownership restrictions⁽⁶⁾. Since then, Guthrie has restructured and gutted the ABC through axing shows and sacking staff⁽⁷⁾.

Without a doubt, the rabid right-wing has its own form of political correctness, launching into paroxysms of manufactured outrage and spraying spittle at anything that doesn't conform to their narrow world view.

While the right-wing argues that the left-wing is shutting down their freedom of speech, it is often the right-wing who aims to ban or shut down left-wing commentators and media that gives voice to the left-wing, or to people who stand up against the human rights abuses perpetrated by the right-wing, such as Australia's inhumane and malicious treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, or even to scientists who present scientific evidence that discredits the right's benighted postulating.

Many on the right will argue that their freedom of speech has been curtailed because of political correctness. Yet again, this is complete rubbish aimed at manufacturing outrage and fear among the gullible. No-one is stopping anyone from having their opinion. The problem with the right-wing is that they see any form of criticism as an attack on their freedom, while not understanding or accepting that freedom of speech means that others can voice dissent. This results in the rabid right-wing trying to shut dissenters down by screeching 'political correctness' whenever they feel their diminutive world-view is being threatened, in a manner reminiscent of the 'repressed peasant' in Monty Python's Holy Grail:

'help, help, I'm being repressed - look at the evil socialist making evidence-based, fact-checked, peer-reviewed, scientific arguments against my everything-phobia ... help, help, I'm being repressed'.

In the United States, the rabid right melted down when NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick dared to remain seated during the national anthem, and on later occasions to kneel, because he wouldn't stand to show pride in the flag of a country that continues to oppress and kill black people. Some military veterans showed support for Kaepernick, saying that they fought for his freedom to make this expression. The right however, wanted him sacked, sanctioned, jailed. The anger was palpable. There were boycotts of NFL games and Kaepernick received death threats. Don't cross the perpetually outraged right-wing. Kaepernick's actions did not affect anyone else, he wasn't trying to stop the national anthem being played, but the rabid right certainly tried to stop him.

One of the lies that the right-wing loves to revel in, is the rubbish claim that they are prevented from saying Merry Christmas, and can only say things like Happy Holidays. Even that doyen of bullshit, President Donald Trump, stated that under his rule, people could again say Merry Christmas ... implying that they had been prohibited from saying it before he rode in like a knight in shining armour. However, former president Barack Obama never stopped people saying 'Merry Christmas'⁽⁸⁾. This was yet another example of Trump's many lies aimed at manufacturing rage and hate in his gullible followers. There is no war on Christmas, no-one is stopping anyone from celebrating Christmas, but the perpetually outraged rabid right create one and then blame 'political correctness' for it.

One of the mantras used to explain the actions of terrorists, is 'they hate our freedoms'. Which is not the issue, however, it is becoming increasingly obvious that many on the right-wing hate our freedoms. They don't want to see the left-wing express their freedom of speech, or see LGBTIQ+ free to marry those they chose, or Muslims free to worship at the Mosque they wish to or wear the clothes they chose.

The right-wing is constantly squawking about their right to freedom of speech, yet most just want the right to not have their myopic views or fatuous beliefs challenged. Nineteenth century Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard accurately nailed the problem with this approach when he said, 'People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use'. Little thought is given to much of the arguments put forward by the rabid right.

What is it that the rabid right wishes to say that they can't say now? The only thing that might land them in trouble is racist or hate speech. Is this what they are so angry about? That they want the right to be hateful and racist? It says a lot about their character.

The following pyramid was designed by Ellen Tuzzolo for Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Non-Violence. Even though it was designed for US audiences, much of it is applicable throughout the world. It shows that Covert White Supremacy is socially acceptable, but just because something is accepted socially, doesn't make it right. It is this insidious racism that 'political correctness' aims to address in order to stop the rise of Overt White Supremacy. Similar pyramids could be developed for other targets of bigotry, such as homophobia, transphobia, and Islamophobia.

Original designed by Ellen Tuzzolo for the Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Non-Violence

But why should the left, or scientists, or academics be silenced because of the bigotry, ignorance, blind nationalism, religious intolerance and hurt feelings of those on the right-wing who can't see beyond their bubble of bigotry and bunkum? As Martin Luther King said, 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter'.

Challenging bigotry and ignorance does matter. Calling out and challenging mindless assertions and hate speech does matter. Those who disagree with the claims of the right-wing should not be silenced. They have freedom of speech too.


References

1. The Washington Post, Lena H. Sun and Juliet Eilprin, CDC gets list of forbidden words: Fetus, transgender, diversity, 15 December 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/cdc-gets-list-of-forbidden-words-fetus-transgender-diversity/2017/12/15/f503837a-e1cf-11e7-89e8-edec16379010_story.html. Accessed 27 December 2017.

2. Snopes, Dan Evon, Easter Bannies, 24 March 2016, https://www.snopes.com/cadbury-banned-easter/. Accessed 27 December 2017.

3. ABC News, RMIT ABC Fact Check, Fact Check: Does halal certification fund terrorism?, 21 April 2015, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-14/fact-check-does-halal-certification-fund-terrorism/6383238. Accessed 27 December 2017.

4. Parliament of Australia, Jean Murphy, Halal certification in Australia: a quick guide, 30 August 2016, https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1617/Quick_Guides/HalalCert. Accessed 27 December 2017.

5. The Guardian, Amanda Meade, Conservative commentator Janet Albrechtsen appointed to ABC panel, 2 July 2014, https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jul/02/conservative-commentator-janet-albrechtsen-appointed-to-abc-panel. Accessed 27 December 2017.

6. The Sydney Morning Herald, Matthew Knott, The tumultous News Corp past of new ABC boss Michelle Guthrie, 17 December 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/the-tumultuous-news-corp-past-of-new-abc-boss-michelle-guthrie-20151217-glq4xf.html. Accessed 27 December 2017.

7. The Sydney Morning Herald, Debi Enker, The news is sad for ABC viewers under Michelle Guthrie's rule, 12 October 2017. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-news-is-sad-for-abc-viewers-under-michelle-guthries-rule-20171009-gywwmj.html. Accessed 27 December 2017.

8. The Independent, Maya Oppenheim, Trump claims he saved 'Merry Christmas' from assault, despite Obama having said it every year, 25 December 2017,
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-merry-christmas-assault-twitter-barack-obama-a8127921.html. Accessed 27 December 2017.

Reds Under the Bed and the Axis of Leftists

Reds Under the Bed and the Axis of Leftists

It's no great secret that every political party has its 'talking points' for the week. They're easy to spot, because every time a member of that party is interviewed they'll use the same language and make the same points as each other.

One of the enduring talking points for Australia's Liberal and National Party coalition government is to accuse the Labor Party and the Greens of being Marxists, Leftists, socialists, communists ... and ... shock horror ... politically correct ...

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, when someone is being 'politically correct', run ... run like the wind ...

Political correctness is a savage beast that has come to slap a gag across our mouths, make boys dress as girls and have us all apologise to chickens for the hormones we inject in them. Scary.

Now, sadly there are some people who have accused the L/NP of living in the 1950s. What sort of rabid political correctness is this? Just because they believe that coal is the way of the future, and that copper wire is a good substitute for the more expensive fibre-optic cable, is no excuse to accuse of them of being 60 years behind the times.

So to prove that they aren't living in some pollution-riddled paradise with naught but rotary phones to communicate, they resurrect one of the greatest strategies of the mid-twentieth century: Reds Under the Bed.

Just when one thinks the L/NP couldn't get any more 50s, they completely knock it out of the park.

In almost every single interview, L/NP politicians are accusing the Labor Party, the Greens, and other dissenters, of being part of some great left-wing conspiracy. Not content to attack Unions, they have now turned their beady little bigotry on GetUp!, a politically independent activist organisation that dares to campaign for human rights, workers rights, marriage equality, and to challenge racism, bigotry and xenophobia at its roots. Apparently sticking up for the rights of people is part of a neo-Marxist agenda and political correctness gone mad. The government's attack on GetUp! is to claim it is a political 'associated entity', similar to the Unions, and therefore costing its political independence⁽¹⁾.

As an aside, if you wish to contribute to a legal expenses fund for GetUp! to defend itself against this unwarranted attack on its independence, please do so here: https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/democracy/greatest-threat-to-getup/we-re-under-attack

This followed the biggest attack on the Union movement in 30 years⁽²⁾, which was aimed at weakening workers' rights and destroying any form of collective power that could represent workers against unscrupulous employers. Instead, the government painted the Unions as being lawless, when employers have been abusing worker rights for years.

The Reds Under the Bed campaign of the 1950s, successfully demonised communism and convinced the gullible that communism was going to take over the world if mighty capitalism didn't conquer it.

The L/NP has resurrected the Reds Under the Bed scare-mongering, with illustrious MPs such as the Finance Minister, Mathias Corman, supported by a number of his colleagues, claiming that Labor leader Bill Shorten's economic agenda would lead Australia down the same path as East Germany and Cuba⁽³⁾.

The government doesn't let up in its hyperbole, accusing Labor of the 'politics of envy'. Obviously singing from the same song-sheet, this was repeated by Corman⁽⁴⁾, Treasurer Scott Morrison⁽⁵⁾ and Prime Minister Turnbull, who ramped up the Reds Under the Bed campaign by maximising his bang for buck by accusing Shorten of being the 'most dangerous left-wing leader in generations' AND that 'he is a wholly-owned subsidiary of militant, left-wing unions who have no regard for the rights of others ...' ⁽⁶⁾. Apparently, wanting to share the wealth is envy, but wanting individuals to accumulate wealth by exploiting workers is not. Unions have no regard for the rights of others? Perhaps these conservative politicians could take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror ... or look at the innumerable businesses who are under-paying staff or denying employee entitlements, when they don't have Unions protecting workers.

Turnbull twisted the idea of equality by claiming that 'Labor's war on inequality is nothing more than a war on aspiration'. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party continues its war on wages. The coalition is using this Reds Under the Bed fear-mongering to dog-whistle the electorate into fearing unions, fearing Labor and worshiping the wealthy as their only means of attaining employment or economic security. Meanwhile, workers' rights continue to erode and wages stagnate⁽⁷⁾.

In 2015, then Prime Minister Tony Abbott banned his front-benchers from appearing on Q&A because the show had allowed Zaky Mallah, to appear in the audience and ask a question. Mallah had been acquitted of terrorism charges in 2005, but had pleaded guilty to threatening to kidnap and kill Commonwealth officers. Mallah asked a question in relation to what would have happened had the Minister been deciding his case, rather than the courts. This was at a time when there was debate about having the Minister make the final call, rather than the courts. Abbott then described Q&A as a 'leftie lynch mob'⁽⁸⁾. Regardless of the rights or wrongs of Mallah appearing, Abbott yet again had to dog-whistle the gullible with a derogatory comment about the left-wing.

In continuing the Reds Under the Bed dog-whistling, James McGrath, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister appeared on the ABC's Q&A on Monday 27 November 2017, where he launched a tirade against GetUp!, The Greens and Labor, claiming that the right-wing of politics was now facing an 'Axis of Leftists'. A claim he repeated a number of times, before culminating in an 'Armageddon of Leftists'⁽⁹⁾. Was he trying to equate the left-wing with the Axis of Evil. Queue the scary music.

Everything that the Liberal or National Parties oppose is being branded as leftist, Marxist or politically-correct. National Party MP, George Christensen was one of many to brand the anti-bullying program, Safe Schools and Respectful Relationships, as being some sort of neo-Marxist gender theory. Christensen: 'We need to look at other methods that aren't originating in an ideology of queer gender theory, and let's be honest, Marxism'⁽¹⁰⁾. 

Former Labor leader, turned rabid right-wing apologist, Mark Latham wrote in his Daily Telegraph column, 'The craziest trend in Australian politics is to teach neo-Marxist genderless programs in our schools through the Orwellian-named Safe Schools and Building Respectful Relationships (BRR) curriculum'⁽¹¹⁾.  No, Mark, the crazy thing is labelling everything you disagree with as Marxist. Considering Marx espoused an economic theory that put the means of production in the hands of the workers, an anti-gay-bullying program does not qualify as Marxist ... neo or otherwise. There is nothing Orwellian in the naming of BRR as it was about ensuring schools would be safe from homophobic bullying ... such as we see from many of these politicians who attack it.

This is the standard that the Liberal and National Parties are bringing to the table; that the left-wing is full of evil Marxists who would turn Australia into Cuba or East Germany.

It is pure fear-mongering. It is aimed to manipulate the gullible with untruthful claims that turn workers against the very people who are fighting for their wages and rights, while driving them into the hands of those who would deny them those wages and rights.

More insidious and disturbing, is the dog-whistling of Marxism and leftist agendas to be used to justify homophobia, Islamophobia, xenophobia, racism, and straight out bigotry. We saw it during the Marriage Equality survey, where Yes campaigners were portrayed as neo-Marxists, we see it in the attacks on those who defend the rights of asylum seekers and refugees, the attacks on those who campaign for indigenous rights.

An article in the Cairns Post claimed that practically every element of our lives was being attacked by Marxists, including marriage, police, education, gender, religion, and crime. According to the article the only anti-Marxist crusaders in Australian parliament were Cory Bernardi, David Leyonhjelm, Pauline Hanson, the now defunct Malcolm Roberts⁽¹²⁾. Each one of these is a disgrace to parliament and an insult to democracy as they attack many of the people who make up the Australian population. Leyonhjelm is currently attempting to have Milo Yiannopoulos address a gathering at Parliament House⁽¹³⁾. Yiannopoulos is a well-known racist, xenophobe, misogynist and pedophile-apologist⁽¹⁴⁾. Hanson is well-known for her hateful comments against indigenous people, Asians and Muslims⁽¹⁵⁾. Bernardi is well-known for his hateful and false claims against Islam and Muslims, his raging against homosexuality and linking it to bestiality, and his demonising of asylum seekers⁽¹⁶⁾.  And Roberts? Well, he had a spectacular fall from grace after being found ineligible to sit in parliament because of being a dual citizen. This was welcomed by many, as Roberts expressed his bizarre conspiracy theories on government and climate change.

Sadly, this is where the Liberal and National Parties are taking us. All their dog-whistling and fear-mongering about Marxism is driving people into the waiting arms of extreme right-wing parties such as One Nation. The 2017 Queensland election saw a 13% swing to One Nation, 20% in some areas, and most of that was from disenfranchised Liberal National Party voters. Ironically, One Nation struggled to win a single seat, and the swing to them took the LNP down as well.

While the LNP and One Nation try to blame Labor for this, part of it has to rest with the constant fear-mongering about Marxism which is resulting in people truly believing that extremists such as Hanson and Bernardi are the only way to innoculate society against it.

Masking the attacks on Labor and the Greens as an attack on neo-Marxism is disingenuous and dangerous. The real attack is on the people; on indigenous rights, workers' rights, refugees, Muslims. The scare-mongering is dividing the people against themselves. Workers are hating Unions, non-Muslims are hating Muslims, straight people are hating LGBTIQ people, non-indigenous Australians are demonising indigenous people ... and on it goes. Meanwhile, while the electorate's energy and passion is directed at hating others, the government continues to undermine the rights of us all, including attacking our freedom of speech and expression as we see with the incessant attacks on the ABC, SBS and now GetUp!

The right-wing may be scaring itself stupid with fear of the left and launching into paroxysms of rage with every claim of Marxism (neo or otherwise), yet the biggest threat is the slide towards the ultra-right-wing, where diversity is not tolerated or celebrated.

Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid's Tale, a dystopian novel of a theocratic USA, succinctly describes the demonisation of 'others', when she said, 'Heroes need monsters to establish their credentials. You need something scary to overcome'. The L/NP has been demonising others for years. It is the only way they can portray themselves as the heroes, the saviours of modern Australia.

It is this turning of Australians against each other by attacking human rights, that will usher in an end to the freedoms that Australia enjoys, and it is this that Australians should all be standing up against - as one!


References

1. The Sydney Morning Herald, Adam Gartrell, GetUp! readies for court battle over bid to link it to Labor and the Greens, 23 October 2017, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/activist-group-getup-readies-for-court-battle-against-coalition-investigation-20171021-gz5nyg.html. Accessed 28 November 2017.

2. The Guardian, Patrick Wintour, Biggest crackdown on trade unions for 30 years launched by Conservatives, 15 July 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jul/15/trade-unions-conservative-offensive-decades-strikes-labour. Accessed 28 November 2017.

3. The Australian, Greg Brown, Bill Shorten 'will turn us into Cuba', 27 August 2017, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/bill-shorten-will-turn-us-into-cuba/news-story/a8545f0f3045b68c6e63ab434803d0d2. Accessed 28 November 2017.

4. News.com.au, staff writer, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann slams Bill Shorten's 'communist' economic policy, 24 August 2017, http://www.news.com.au/national/politics/finance-minister-mathias-cormann-slams-bill-shortens-communist-economic-policy/news-story/d1134a0aa6f3b19ebc4f72f8cca2fcaf. Accessed 28 November 2017.

5. SBS,  Source: AAP, Shorten chasing politics of envy: Treasurer, 24 July 2017, http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/07/24/shorten-chasing-politics-envytreasurer. Accessed 28 November 2017.

6. The Sydney Morning Herald, Amy Remeikis, Bill Shorten the 'most dangerous left wing leader in generations', says Malcolm Turnbull, 12 August 2017, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bill-shorten-the-most-dangerous-left-wing-leader-in-generations-says-malcolm-turnbull-20170812-gxuug0.html. Accessed 28 November 2017.

7. The Sydney Morning Herald, Anna Patty, War on wages: Australians are working harder and going backwards, 5 August 2017, http://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/war-on-wages-australians-are-working-harder-and-going-backwards-20170803-gxoh9c.html. Accessed 28 November 2017.

8. The Sydney Morning Herald, Matthew Knott, Q&A fallout: Tony Abbott orders frontbench ministers to boycott ABC show, 6 July 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/qa-fallout-tony-abbott-orders-frontbench-ministers-to-boycott-abc-show-20150705-gi5olb.html. Accessed 28 November 2017.

9. ABC, Q&A, Royal Commission and Election Results, 27 November 2017, http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s4752801.htm, Accessed 27 November 2017.

10. ABC, Michael Bradley, The problem with evoking Marxism in the Safe Schools debate, 24 March 2016, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-24/bradley-marxism-and-safe-schools/7272764. Accessed 28 November 2017.

11. The Daily Telegraph, Mark Latham, From reason to radicalism: Gender fluidity, 31 May 2016, https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/from-reason-to-radicalism-gender-fluidity/news-story/832eb330f1e68c0af8ab37521dc402d7. Accessed 28 November 2017.

12. The Cairns Post, Julian Tomlinson, Marxism aims to destroy conventional society ... and it's happening every day, 29 June 2017, http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/opinion/marxism-aims-to-destroy-conventional-society-and-its-happening-every-day/news-story/368944a48185fd9f208aca6cb8557a48. Accessed 28 November 2017.

13. SBS, Source AAP-SBS, Greens want to ban alt-right figure Milo Yiannopoulos, 28 November 2017, http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/11/28/greens-want-ban-alt-right-figure-milo-yiannopoulos. Accessed 28 November 2017.

14. Anti-Defamation League, Milo Yiannopoulos: Five Things to Know, https://www.adl.org/education/resources/backgrounders/milo-yiannopoulos-five-things-to-know. Accessed 28 November 2017.

15. Huffpost, Josh Butler, Pauline Hanson Says She's Never Said Anything Racist Ever, 29 March 2017, http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/03/29/pauline-hanson-says-shes-never-said-anything-racist-ever_a_22016461/. Accessed 28 November 2017.

16. ABC, Ashlynne McGhee, Cory Bernardi: Where does the Senator stand on key issues?, 6 February 2017, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-06/cory-bernardi-profile-who-is-he-and-where-does-he-stand/8244040. Accessed 28 November 2017.

The No campaign isn't defending freedom of speech, they're defending fear & hate speech

The No campaign isn't defending freedom of speech, they're defending fear & hate speech

As the divisive and spiteful campaigning over the marriage equality plebiscite inches closer to the day of reckoning, the No camp have been claiming that legalising it will be an attack on their freedoms. Ironic, considering it is they who are trying to limit the freedoms of LGBTIQ people.

To support their claims, the No camp has regaled us with tales of misery and woe from nations that already have marriage equality. Most of these claims have been disproven and shown to be complete fabrications. Canada was one such nation, and yet Irwin Cottler, the former Canadian Justice Minister, has stated that marriage equality has had no impact on religious freedom, but has warned that Australia is exposing the LGBTIQ community to hatred through this public survey. Cottler went on to state that 'You don't have a referendum on minority rights issues ... As I said then, if this legislation passes the sky won’t fall and the earth won’t open up, and I said, five, 10 years from now this will not only be behind us but people will ask what was the fuss all about'.. And in fact that’s been the case in Canada. There’s a strong support now for same-sex legislation.' ⁽¹⁾.

While the No camp continues with its fear campaign, it is the freedoms of LGBTIQ people and the supporters of marriage equality who are having their freedoms curtailed. For instance, American rapper, Macklemore, performed during the opening ceremony of the recent National Rugby League grand final. Controversially, he performed his hit song, Same Love, which had spent four weeks at number 1 on the Australian music charts, and is about love between people of the same gender. The No camp went into melt-down and declared that sport should not be politicised. In an act of sensationalist censorship, radio stations 2GB and 3AW refused to broadcast Macklemore performing the song, even though they were providing live coverage of the grand final. Instead, they cut to a rap song that broadcaster Ray Hadley had recorded with his daughter in 2012. Hadley claimed it had nothing to do with marriage equality, but was instead because he believed Australian performers should perform at the grand final⁽²⁾. Yet, he recorded this five years before and hadn't replaced any other international acts during the intervening years with this self-indulgent song. If he really supported Aussie acts, why didn't he play an Aussie act? Freedom of speech? Censorship.

For the record, Macklemore's inspirational performance at the NRL 2017 grand final can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4TpOs8tqJ4

One of the No camp's claims is that people will lose their jobs for failing to support marriage equality, yet recently an Anglican priest was stood down for his support of marriage equality, which the church framed as having 'tones of blasphemy'⁽³⁾. Interesting that the No camp isn't defending his freedom of speech.

Perhaps if we are to look at what is happening in other nations, the United States would be a good place to start. The United States Justice Department, is arguing that employers should be able to sack people for being gay⁽⁴⁾. Additionally, the US Attorney-General, Jeff Sessions, issued a directive overturning a previous policy that had banned discrimination against transgender people⁽⁵⁾.

This comes at a time when the feckless US President Donald Trump has banned transgender people from serving in the military⁽⁶⁾ and has become the first US president to appear at a conference run by the actively anti-LGBTIQ organisation, Family Research Council, that has been classified as a hate group. The Summit attracts religious extremists, white supremacists and far-right activists⁽⁷⁾, and promotes conversion therapy. In other words, they want to force LGBTIQ people to converted to heterosexuality, a process renowned for the harm it can cause⁽⁸⁾. Sadly, there are some in the No camp in Australia who promote conversion therapy and uphold Donald Trump as the ultimate freedom fighter against the hordes of gay-agenda-pushing neo-Marxists trying to tear down the fabric of western society. Because, you know, marriage equality will do that ... where's an interrobang when you need one!?

Attending forums run by hate groups isn't just the domain of the United States, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott addressed the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a staunch anti-LGBTIQ organisation that's been deemed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Centre. The ADF supports recriminalising homosexuality. Abbott addressed the ADF in January 2016 when he spoke against marriage equality. He will again address them later this month.⁽⁹⁾

This followed hot on the heels of the US voting against a United Nations resolution condemning the death penalty being imposed for having gay sex. There are six countries that actually execute people for being in same-sex relationships: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria and Somalia. In doing so, the US joined 12 other nations to support executing gay people, including China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.⁽¹⁰⁾

There is no attack on the freedom of religion or freedom of speech of those opposed to marriage equality. Instead, the almost militant No camp is propagating the hate and abuse that LGBTIQ people have experienced for years. The No camp is demonising the Yes campaign and making it into some sort of battle against political correctness. They are making this into anything but about the real issue, which is that consenting adults want to be able to marry they person they love, regardless of gender. LGBTIQ people simply want the same rights as everyone else to marry. Hence ... wait for it ... marriage EQUALITY. The fabric of society will not unravel if Adam and Steve marry each other.

Challenging the lies and bigotry of the No camp is not an attack on their freedom of speech. It is, however the exercising of freedom of speech by those who are not fooled by the homophobic fear campaign being waged by the No camp.

So why is this so significant? Many on the No camp claim they are voting No 'for the children'. Yet, their very behaviour is exactly what is causing great angst and increased self-harm among LGBTIQ children. They have opposed the Safe Schools program which aimed to teach students tolerance and understanding of LGBTIQ people and hopefully end bullying. Looking at how their parents are carrying on, the country needs the Safe Schools program more than ever. Clearly, they do not understand the negative impact that their actions have on people. National Party senator Matt Canavan displayed his ignorance of this when he said that people should 'stop being delicate little flowers and have a proper debate ... Can’t we all just grow a spine and grow up? ... The debate hasn’t been that bad.' Not surprisingly, mental health experts criticised Canavan. Before calling this public survey, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was warned that this debate would be toxic and harmful to LGBTIQ people. Mental Health organisations have seen a significant increase in people accessing their services since the survey was called.⁽¹¹⁾

Demonstrating the No camp's complete lack of concern for children, the head of the Australian Christian Lobby, stated that claims of LGBTIQ suicides were emotional blackmail, even though five mental health groups have advised that legalising marriage equality could prevent 3,000 adolescents from attempting suicide per year.⁽¹²⁾ This isn't just a lack of concern, it is the outward expression of hatred towards LGBTIQ people by people who claim to be Christian, who claim to be defenders of the nation's moral values. Apparently, when given a choice between suicide and marriage equality, these 'Christians' would rather see kids kill themselves, while accusing them of emotional blackmail, than allow loving people to marry. No wonder, there is such a high incidence of self-harm among young LGBTIQ people, when they are made to feel they have no future; when they are made to feel they are an abomination in the eyes of a God who would rather they die than live a normal life.

Author Jodi Picoult most succinctly expresses the importance of acceptance of LGBTIQ people, when she stated, 'Gay teenagers are four times as likely to attempt suicide as straight ones. I wish they knew that there's nothing wrong with them; that they are just a different shade of normal'.

Voting for marriage equality is not forcing others to do anything they don't want. That would be the No camp who are forcing LGBTIQ people to live by the values imposed by people who propagate fear and hate. The No camp is fighting tooth and nail to protect their own selfish and misplaced interests. This selfishness that forces bigotry in the name of 'family values', was summed up in the word of the renowned writer, Oscar Wilde, a person who suffered for years, including being jailed and exiled, because of his homosexuality ... and just a reminder, Tony Abbott will have twice addressed a group that supports recriminalising homosexuality. Wilde's words resonate today as much as they did more than 100 years ago and perfectly describe the selfishness of the No camp:

'Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live'.

The No campaign has included advertising which uses dog-whistling typical of people who have never been oppressed or victimised. It claims marriage equality is 'political correctness' being run by the 'thought police', and invokes the boogey man of 'unknown consequences'. The No campaign may as well replace their ads with people running around in circles carrying signs warning the sky will fall in, while screeching, 'help, help, I'm being oppressed because I can't oppress others'.

In Oscar Wilde's day, the homophobes wanted LGBTIQ people in the closet. 100 years later, they still want the 'love that dare not speak its name' to remain unspoken - this is the real attack on freedom; the attack on equality.

Taking this further, and revealing their true aim, anti-marriage-equality group, The Coalition for Marriage, stated in an interview with The Guardian on 20 October 2017, that they supported the right of service providers to refuse service for any wedding whose 'message' they disagreed with. This was in response to numerous questions from The Guardian which included scenarios such as 'mixed faith, mixed race, who had engaged in sex before marriage, used contraception or been divorced'.⁽¹³⁾ This is the real threat from the No campaign, the actual attempt to dismantle anti-discrimination legislation, to allow discrimination ... it is no wonder that the No campaigners are being called homophobes and bigots when they are supporting the right to discriminate based on sexual orientation, race or any other criteria these small-minded people disagree with.

And they claim it is the Yes campaign that is attacking freedom of speech and religion‽ They hide behind the facade of religion when it suits them. I'm sure we're all familiar with their hypocritical support of the human rights abuses meted out by right-wing politicians in direct contravention of the bible that says to look after the poor, the widow, the oppressed and the 'stranger in the land' (the refugee), while these same politicians claimed to be Christian.

To quote from Dan Brown's latest novel, Origin, 'To permit ignorance is to empower it'. Lyle Shelton has already stated that if Yes is victorious, then the No campaign will continue unabated⁽¹⁴⁾, so regardless of the outcome of the survey, the bigotry of the No campaign must continue to be challenged.

This public survey should never have happened. Politicians are the only ones who can change the law. They should have just put the marriage bill to parliament and voted on it ... as they will have to do once the survey is over. Rather than making an issue of 'same-sex' marriage and all the hate and fear that has accompanied opposition to it, it should be called for what it is ... marriage equality ... or simply: marriage.

Pink on marriage in interview with Gaydar Radio, 19 September 2012⁽¹⁵⁾

References

1. Nine News, Mary Jordan, 'It affects nobody else': Former Canadian Justice Minister says marriage equality hasn't hurt religious freedoms, 12 October 2017,   http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/10/10/12/38/canadian-ex-justice-minister-says-marriage-plebiscite-brings-ugliness. Accessed 17 October 2017.

2. Sydney Morning Herald, Broede Carmody, 2GB, 3AW didn't play Macklemore song during NRL broadcast, 2 October 2017, http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/2gb-3aw-didnt-play-macklemore-song-during-nrl-broadcast-20171002-gysmew.html. Accessed 17 October 2017.

3. SBS, Natasha Christian, Priest who supports same-sex marriage suspended from Anglican Church for 'tones of blasphemy', 2 October 2017, http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/10/02/priest-who-supports-same-sex-marriage-suspended-anglican-church-tones-blasphemy. Accessed 17 October 2017.

4. The Independent, Tom Embury-Dennis, Donald Trump's Justice Department launches bid to make being gay a sackable offence, 27 September 2017, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-gay-sacked-fired-offence-homosexuality-doj-justice-department-a7969601.html. Accessed 17 October 2017.

5. Buzzfeed, Dominic Holden, Jeff Sessions Just Reversed A Policy That Protects Transgender Workers From Discrimination, 6 October 2017, https://www.buzzfeed.com/dominicholden/jeff-sessions-just-reversed-a-policy-that-protects. Accessed 17 October 2017.

6. ABC, Donald Trump says transgender individuals can no longer serve in US military in any capacity, 27 July 2017, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-26/trump-says-no-transgender-individuals-will-serve-in-us-military/8747018. Accessed 17 October 2017.

7. The Independent, Maya Oppenheim, Donald Trump to become first president to speak at anti-LGBT hate group's annual summit, 12 October 2017, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-anti-lgbt-address-hate-group-summit-meeting-first-president-us-homphobia-a7997401.html. Accessed 17 October 2017.

8. Human Rights Campaign, The Lies and Dangers of Efforts to Change Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, https://www.hrc.org/resources/the-lies-and-dangers-of-reparative-therapy. Accessed 17 October 2017.

9. Huffington Post, Josh Butler, Tony Abbott To Visit Anti-LGBTIQ 'Hate Group' Again, 19 October 2017, http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/10/19/tony-abbott-to-visit-anti-lgbtq-hate-group-again_a_23248365/. Accessed 19 October 2017

10. The Independent, Tom Embury-Dennis, US votes against UN resolution condemning gay sex death penalty, joining Iraq and Saudi Arabia, 3 October 2017, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-gay-sex-death-penalty-un-same-sex-relations-human-rights-council-saudi-arabia-iraq-nikki-haley-a7980981.html. Accessed 17 October 2017.

11. The Guardian, Paul Karp, Mental health expert attacks Canavan's 'grow a spine' comment on marriage equality, 18 September 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/18/mental-health-expert-attacks-canavans-grow-a-spine-comment-on-marriage-equality. Accessed 17 October 2017.

12. The New Daily, Luke Henriques Gomes, LGBTI suicide fears are ‘emotional blackmail’, says ‘No’ campaigner Lyle Shelton, 18 October 2017, http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2017/10/18/lyle-shelton-interview/. Accessed 19 October 2017.

13. The Guardian, Paul Karp, Marriage equality opponents call for broad right to discriminate, 21 October 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/21/marriage-equality-opponents-call-for-broad-right-to-discriminate. Accessed 21 October 2017.

14. Star Observer, Jess Jones, Lyle Shelton says the No campaign won't take Yes for an answer, 19 October 2017, http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/lyle-shelton-says-no-campaign-wont-take-yes-answer/163003. Accessed 21 October 2017.

15. Huffington Post, Pink Talks Gay Marriage, LGBT Fans And 2012 Election In New Interview, 20 September 2012, https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/20/pink-gay-marriage-lgbt-fans-interview-_n_1901584.html. Accessed 17 October 2017.



Updated 21 October 2017.

Abbott: the architect of ugliness in the marriage equality debate

Abbott: the architect of ugliness in the marriage equality debate

It doesn't take former Prime Minister Tony Abbott long to demonise others for political expediency. It's how he rolls.

Within moments of being headbutted by a self-proclaimed hater, Abbott managed to accuse the Yes campaign of perpetrating most of 'ugliness' of the worsening Marriage Equality survey and to also state that crime against LGBTIQ people was 'long gone'. Eric Abetz, who was with Abbott that evening, made the contradictory statement that the incident wasn't typical of the Yes campaign, but it highlighted the general "ugliness" of the movement.⁽¹⁾ Abetz then said it was 'harbinger of what is likely to occur' if same-sex marriage were legalised⁽²⁾.

As it turns out, Abbott was headbutted by Astro 'Funknukl' Labe, an anarchist and DJ from North Hobart, who has since stated that his actions had nothing to do with Marriage Equality and everything to do with fulfilling a life-long ambition to headbutt a fascist ... oh, that and his personal hatred of Tony Abbott. He went on to call Tony Abbott 'an evil c***', and stated 'It was nothing really remotely to do with that. It’s just about Tony Abbott, the f***ing worm that he is. ... All it was is I saw Tony Abbott and I’d had half a skinful and I wanted to nut the c***'.⁽³⁾ Astro Labe waxed lyrical by describing Abbott as a 'completely disgusting person' who doesn't respect others. He went on to describe Abbott: 'He's one of the sickest examples of why Australian society is so archaic in 2017. There's no connection to the Bible in his actions. He's a gentrified rich kid. He personifies everything I hate politically, and he's not even good at it ... If I see an opportunity to improve my life and those around me by nutting Tony Abbott, I'm a pretty pragmatic guy'.⁽⁴⁾ 

During a television interview on 22 September 2017, taking a contemplative drag on a cigarette, Labe explained, 'It has absolutely nothing to do with marriage equality. I decided I'm never going to get the opportunity to headbutt Tony Abbott again', with a what-can-I-do shrug of the shoulders, he concludes, 'so I seized the moment'.

This clearly articulated hatred of Abbott was Astro Labe's motivation for the headbutt, yet Abbott used this assault to attack the Yes campaign ... nothing like two wrongs making a ... oh wait, nothing right about that.

An ugly incident by a drunk anarchist fulfilling his bucket list, was exploited by Abbott to vilify the entire Yes campaign. 

The headbutt was an unacceptable form of political protest and Yes voters were quick to denounce it. As for Abbott's claim that most of the ugliness has been from the Yes campaign, here's a shortlist of the No campaign's crowning glories:

• Violent assault and subsequent hospitalisation of the godson of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd⁽⁵⁾. The perpetrator was allegedly yelling, 'I hate faggots! I f***ing hate faggots'.⁽⁶⁾ 
• A 14 year old girl received death threats from the father of a classmate⁽⁷⁾
• Numerous accounts of vile homophobic abuse⁽⁸⁾ 
• Significant scare-mongering and blatant lies promulgated by many in the No campaign, some of which have been addressed on this blog previously (refer below to 'Related articles').

The demonisation of the Yes campaign is no great surprise. Many in the No camp have been trying to portray themselves as the victims in this debate, even though hate crime has been the cause of emotional and physical trauma, including killings, of LGBTIQ people for years ... often at the hands of those who are now in the No camp, opposing marriage equality.

Tony Abbott is the architect of the 'ugliness' of this debate. It was him that shirked his parliamentary responsibility by refusing to debate marriage equality, instead making a nefarious promise of a plebiscite at some distant time in the future. This kicked the issue so far downstream that Abbott was no longer Prime Minister when it was raised again.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was advised that the plebiscite-now-survey would be highly divisive, and would cause great harm to LGBTIQ people by sending the message that they're an aberration, that they're not normal, that their relationships are not legitimate or worth the same as a heterosexual person's relationships. Turnbull denied any claim that the marriage equality debate would be hurtful or offensive. Yet, here we are ... with violence, abuse, and irrational conclusions ... meanwhile, mental health agencies have reported an increase in the number of LGBTIQ people accessing their services since the survey was released⁽⁹⁾. And Abbott and his ilk continue to victimise the victims of homophobic violence and abuse.

No voters are upset that people on the Yes side, are calling them bigots and homophobes ... even though for many of them, they are bigots and homophobes.

While it is ok to vote No because that's how you interpret the bible or because you believe in a 'traditional' family unit; what isn't ok is to spread fear and lies. A phobia is an 'irrational fear or aversion to something', so it is homophobic to perpetuate fear of marriage equality and LGBTIQ people. 

Many of the No camp's arguments have been irrational and pure rubbish, including claims linking marriage equality to pedophilia, bestiality, polygamy and marrying bridges. Some of these voters dispute the idea of anthropomorphic climate change but blame earthquakes, floods and hurricanes on same-sex marriage. At the No campaign launch, there was the claim that legalisation of marriage equality would usher in a period of thought crimes, in which it will be illegal in deed and thought to oppose same-sex marriage⁽¹⁰⁾.

Nothing like a campaign of fear when you're trying to prove you're not homophobic.

Sadly, people love being scared and many a successful political campaign has been run on a platform of fear ... such as both John Howard and Tony Abbott whipping up racism and xenophobia, using fear of refugees and Muslims, to scare the electorate into voting for them. And disturbingly it worked.

The No campaign are well aware of the power of fear, hence their incessant attacks on the Yes camp, on LGBTIQ, on ill-defined concepts such as 'cultural Marxism', 'gender fluidity', 'neo-Marxist agenda'.

Poor ol' Karl Marx ... blamed for anything that Conservatives disagree with

As a side note, speaking of the Neo-Marxist Agenda, if I could speak to anyone in history it would be Karl Marx ... I want to know how he knows Neo and what their agenda is. Maybe there is something in this, after all The Matrix was a transgender film, whose director, Lana Wachowski was forced out of the closet during the making of the Matrix series. Some years later, Lana's sister and co-director of The Matrix, Lily Wachowski, also came out as being trans-gender⁽¹¹⁾. The Matrix was metaphor for transgender - take one pill and remain who you are, take the other and bust out of the Matrix, see how deep that rabbit hole goes. But I digress.

The No camp's pet claim is 'won't anyone think of the children'. Yet, 12% of same-sex couples have their own children living with them and their partner. Studies have shown that children in same-sex parented families do as well emotionally, socially and educationally as those in opposite-sex parented families⁽¹²⁾.

Switching off the white noise and dog-whistling from the No campaign, Marriage Equality is purely about two consenting adults choosing to marry. The benefits from this include tangible mental health benefits that come from being an accepted member of society. It will mean true equality for their relationships, which is not currently the case. No campaigners claim there is equality, because of changes implemented in 2008 by Labor, to remove discrimination in de facto same-sex relationships. However, there are still differences not equality. Same-sex couples face far more rigour in proving their de facto status then opposite-sex couples, and for many, their next of kin status is not recognised which can add all sorts of complication and heartbreak to situations, including during health care or when one partner passes away^(13)(14). Marriage Equality will remedy this.

Astro 'Funknukl' Labe - Abbott-hater & anarchist

Tony Abbott trying to turn Astro Labe's headbutt into something it isn't, is purely about turning the No campaign into the victims. However, LGBTIQ people have suffered hate, discrimination, stigma, rejection and violence for years⁽¹⁵⁾. Despite Tony Abbott claiming that attacks on the LGBTIQ community are 'long-gone', this is not the case, with 18% of young LGBTIQ people experiencing physical homophobic abuse and 61% experiencing verbal homophobic abuse⁽¹⁶⁾. A New Zealand pastor even preached a sermon in which he stated, 'My view on homo marriages is that the Bible never mentions it so I'm not against them getting married, as long as a bullet goes through their head the moment they kiss ... because that's what it talks about ... not homo marriage, but homo death'.⁽¹⁷⁾

When Abbott and many others in the No camp accuse Yes voters of being hypocritical in their intolerance of the No voters' freedom of speech, they are being disingenuous. No-one is stopping No voters from exercising their freedom of speech, however, people are calling out and challenging the veracity of their claims. This is not an attack on free speech, but the exercising of it. Freedom of speech includes the freedom of retort. In terms of tolerance, there is a little thing called the Paradox of Tolerance ... in other words, to tolerate intolerance is to destroy tolerance. It is necessary to challenge intolerance in order to preserve tolerance.

Yes voters are not stopping anyone from doing anything. That would be the No voters who wish to prevent two people from marrying the person they love and choose.

Kevin Rudd's godson, Sean - victim of  alleged homophobic bashing by No campaigner

Marriage Equality will help to remove the stigma and rejection that LGBTIQ people experience, and will help reduce the incidents of self-harm among LGBTIQ adolescent⁽¹⁸⁾. Surely, if the No campaign is truly concerned about the children, this is plenty reason enough to vote FOR marriage equality, rather than continuing with the rejection and demonisation of LGBTIQ people.

It's time to move from headbutts, vile personal attacks and demonisation of LGBTIQ people, to wedding rings, marriage certificates and living happily ever after 'till death do us part' ... regardless of gender.


References

1. Herald Sun, Claire Bickers, Malcolm Turnbull condemns 'unAustralian' headbutt attack on Tony Abbott by gay marriage supporter, 22 September 2017, http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/work/mps-condemn-unaustralian-attack-on-tony-abbott-by-gay-marriage-supporter/news-story/c1008ff94c48135805722cdbf645c307. Accessed 22 September 2017.

2. The Age, Michael Koziol, Matt Maloney, 'Nothing to do with same-sex marriage': Anarchist DJ who headbutted Tony Abbott, 22 September 2017, http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/it-was-nothing-to-do-with-samesex-marriage-anarchist-dj-who-headbutted-tony-abbott-speaks-out-20170922-gymu2z.html. Accessed 22 September 2017.

3. The Australian, Joe Kelly, Primrose Riordan, Tony Abbott 'headbutted': man charged, 22 September 2017, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/tony-abbott-headbutted-by-yes-campaigner/news-story/663d5a857609b695c6f91d91720f1369. Accessed 22 September 2017.

4. The Guardian, Adam Morton, 'Nothing to do with marriage equality': alleged Tony Abbott attacker speaks out', 22 September 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/22/man-charged-over-allegedly-head-butting-tony-abbott. Accessed 22 September 2017.

5. ABC News, Man charged with punching Kevin Rudd's godson in same-sex marriage row, 15 September 2017,  http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-15/same-sex-marriage-kevin-rudd-godson-attack-arrest/8947920. Accessed 22 September 2017.

6. Huffington Post, Josh Butler, Kevin Rudd's Godson Allegedly Assaulted in  Homophobic Attack, 13 September 2017, http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/09/13/kevin-rudds-godson-allegedly-assaulted-in-homophobic-attack_a_23207040/. Accessed 22 September 2017.

7. Pink News, Meka Beresford, 14-year-old targeted with death threats over support for marriage equality, 19 September 2017, http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/09/19/14-year-old-targeted-with-death-threats-over-support-for-marriage-equality/. Accessed 22 September 2017.

8. Huffington Post, Josh Butler, LGBTQ Aussies Share Stories of Vile Homophobic Abuse with #TheyGetToVote Hashtag, 14 September 2017, http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/09/13/lgbtq-aussies-share-stories-of-vile-homophobic-abuse-with-theygettovote-hashtag_a_23208408/. Accessed 22 September 2017.

9. ABC News, Same-sex marriage survey sparks spike in access of LGBTI mental health support, 18 September 2017, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-18/same-sex-marriage-survey-lgbtqi-mental-health-support/8955956. Accessed 22 September 2017.

10. The Sydney Morning Herald, Michael Koziol, Thought crime fears motivate same-sex marriage opponents at 'no' campaign launch, 16 September 2017, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/thought-crime-fears-motivate-samesex-marriage-opponents-at-no-campaign-launch-20170916-gyixe6.html. Accessed 22 September 2017.

11. The Huffington Post, E.A. Lockhart, Yes, 'The Matrix' is a Transgender Film, and Some of Us Noticed That a Long Time Ago, 9 June 2017, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ea-lockhart/yes-the-matrix-is-a-trans_b_10335404.html. Accessed 22 September 2017.

12. Australian Government, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Lixia Qu, Ken Knight and Darryl Higgins, Same-sex couple families in Australia, September 2016, https://aifs.gov.au/publications/same-sex-couple-families-australia. Accessed 22 September 2017.

13. SBS, Liam Elphick, Do same-sex couples really have the same rights as married couples? 21 September 2017, http://www.sbs.com.au/topics/sexuality/agenda/article/2017/09/14/do-same-sex-couples-really-have-same-rights-married-couples. Accessed 23 September 2017.

14. Amnesty International, Hannah Robert, Fiona Kelly, Explainer: What Legal Benefits Do Married Couples Have That De Facto Couples Do Not?, 22 September 2017, https://www.amnesty.org.au/equal-marriage-de-facto-explainer. Accessed 23 September 2017.

15. Australian Government, National Mental Health Commission, Statement on Marriage Equality, http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/our-work/statement-on-marriage-equality.aspx. Accessed 22 September 2017.

16. ABC News, Jessica Haynes, SSM: Are attacks on the LGBTI community actually 'long gone', 22 September 2017, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-22/ssm-attacks-on-the-lgbti-community/8974524. Accessed 23 September 2017.

17. New Zealand Herald, Dubby Henry, West Auckland pastor preaches gay people should be shot, 15 August 2017, http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11904818. Accessed 23 September 2017.

18. Black Dog Institute, Marriage equality improves mental health, 21 February 2017,  https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/news/news-detail/2017/02/21/marriage-equality-improves-mental-health. Accessed 22 September 2017.

Related articles on Ranting Panda

Love is Love & Fear is Homophobia

NO! The YES campaign is NOT worse than Racism - a response to Karina Okotel's claims.

The simple right to say 'I Do' and the real consequences of marriage equality

The Tennis Legend, Lesbians and the Devil


Updated: 23 September 2017.