Greens Justice spokesperson Nick McKim MP, used today’s celebration of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) to call upon Channel 9’s Footy Show presenter Sam Newman to apologise for his unacceptable comments criticising affection expressed by a same-sex couple.
Mr McKim also reiterated the Greens call for same-sex marriage laws, saying that boof-headed views such as Mr Newman’s highlighted the need for people’s relationships to be formally recognised and treated as equal regardless of their sexual identity.
“The best way Tasmania can celebrate International Day Against Homophobia would be to commit to providing same-sex marriage, and remove one of the last areas of inequality from our statutes,” Mr McKim said.
“Marriage equality would send a strong message that homophobic attitudes like Mr Newman’s have no place in a caring and inclusive society.”
“Unfortunately these attitudes do still remain, and Mr Newman should apologise for his offensive comments.”
IDAHO commemorates the decision by the World Health Organisation in 1990 to remove homosexuality from the list of recognised mental disorders, and is celebrated by more than 60 countries across the globe.
Functions are being held in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie from Friday and across the weekend to mark this anniversary.