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| Marriage equality campaign cries foul over ‘divisive’ ad tactics | Marriage equality campaign cries foul over ‘divisive’ ad tactics |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Equality Campaign has attacked a “divisive” advertisement that attempts to cast marriage equality supporters as intolerant by citing comments on social media labelling opponents “bigots”. | The Equality Campaign has attacked a “divisive” advertisement that attempts to cast marriage equality supporters as intolerant by citing comments on social media labelling opponents “bigots”. |
| The campaign’s executive director, Tiernan Brady, said the yes campaign had chosen not to highlight the abuse LGBTI people have suffered in the campaign because it did not want to divide Australians but warned the no campaign’s tactics could harm the country after the result of the same-sex marriage postal survey is declared on 15 November. | The campaign’s executive director, Tiernan Brady, said the yes campaign had chosen not to highlight the abuse LGBTI people have suffered in the campaign because it did not want to divide Australians but warned the no campaign’s tactics could harm the country after the result of the same-sex marriage postal survey is declared on 15 November. |
| The Coalition for Marriage’s “Love is Love” ad features ironic, jaunty music while displaying screenshots of abuse on social media from people it suggests are marriage equality supporters including calling opponents “homophobic maggots”, “bigots” and expressing hope that “someone kicks your teeth in”. | The Coalition for Marriage’s “Love is Love” ad features ironic, jaunty music while displaying screenshots of abuse on social media from people it suggests are marriage equality supporters including calling opponents “homophobic maggots”, “bigots” and expressing hope that “someone kicks your teeth in”. |
| The ad was given an M rating for mature audiences and was not shown during the AFL grand final although it is believed it will be aired in the NRL final on Sunday evening. | The ad was given an M rating for mature audiences and was not shown during the AFL grand final although it is believed it will be aired in the NRL final on Sunday evening. |
| The Coalition for Marriage said it was “disappointed” the ad would not be seen by all Australians due the rating it received because “what our opponents say is considered not suitable for young Australians”. | The Coalition for Marriage said it was “disappointed” the ad would not be seen by all Australians due the rating it received because “what our opponents say is considered not suitable for young Australians”. |
| Brady said that “that unfortunately lesbian and gay people understand what it feels like to be verbally harassed and bullied”. | Brady said that “that unfortunately lesbian and gay people understand what it feels like to be verbally harassed and bullied”. |
| “We have chosen as a campaign not to highlight that because marriage equality needs to unite the country not divide it,” he said. “This ad is divisive. The majority of Australians are for marriage equality because they believe in the fundamental Australian value of fairness and they’re being called intolerant for believing in fairness.” | “We have chosen as a campaign not to highlight that because marriage equality needs to unite the country not divide it,” he said. “This ad is divisive. The majority of Australians are for marriage equality because they believe in the fundamental Australian value of fairness and they’re being called intolerant for believing in fairness.” |
| Brady said the yes campaign was “utterly committed to a solely positive campaign because we know we all have to share the same country the next day”. | Brady said the yes campaign was “utterly committed to a solely positive campaign because we know we all have to share the same country the next day”. |
| “We all have to live with the tone that we set,” he said. “That’s why we have refused to go negative and will continue to be relentlessly positive.” | “We all have to live with the tone that we set,” he said. “That’s why we have refused to go negative and will continue to be relentlessly positive.” |
| Liberal MP Tim Wilson told Sky News there was “no place” for the type of abuse featured in the ad and it did not reflect the position of same-sex marriage supporters who “want to see a more united country where everyone is treated with respect”. | |
| But Wilson said the Coalition for Marriage’s decision to feature the abuse in an ad “seeks to inflame discussion” and the no campaign was “trying to bait people into being ferocious in the debate, and that’s not what we should be doing”. | |
| The no campaign’s attempt to highlight alleged intolerance stands in contrast to the Nationals senator Matt Canavan’s claim that marriage equality supporters needed to “grow a spine”, a comment labelled “very regrettable” by the mental health expert Patrick McGorry. | |
| LGBTI Australians have higher rates of suicide, which led to the peak body for psychiatrists supporting marriage equality to counteract the “significant and deleterious” impact on mental health from discrimination. | |
| On Monday ReachOut.com reported a 17% increase in the number of LGBTI young people seeking support through their service. | |
| On Sunday the Tasmanian senator Eric Abetz told the ABC the Coalition for Marriage ad “exposes some of the ugliness of the yes campaign”. | On Sunday the Tasmanian senator Eric Abetz told the ABC the Coalition for Marriage ad “exposes some of the ugliness of the yes campaign”. |
| “Once again, this commentary is all one-way traffic, suggesting that the no campaign is inflaming a situation when it is exposing what is occurring and will occur in the event of the yes campaign being successful.” | “Once again, this commentary is all one-way traffic, suggesting that the no campaign is inflaming a situation when it is exposing what is occurring and will occur in the event of the yes campaign being successful.” |
| Abetz has previously claimed that an alleged assault on Tony Abbott was a “foretaste” and “harbinger” of what would happen if marriage equality were legalised, despite the fact the man charged said it had nothing to do with Abbott’s views on marriage. | Abetz has previously claimed that an alleged assault on Tony Abbott was a “foretaste” and “harbinger” of what would happen if marriage equality were legalised, despite the fact the man charged said it had nothing to do with Abbott’s views on marriage. |
| On Sunday the Equality Campaign released polling that showed that 75% of women between the ages of 25 and 44 are voting yes in the marriage equality postal survey. | On Sunday the Equality Campaign released polling that showed that 75% of women between the ages of 25 and 44 are voting yes in the marriage equality postal survey. |
| Equality Campaign spokeswoman Janine Middleton said: “Women understand that marriage equality is about people who could easily be part of their families and why it is so important for everyone’s children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews to have the same dignity and legal standing. | Equality Campaign spokeswoman Janine Middleton said: “Women understand that marriage equality is about people who could easily be part of their families and why it is so important for everyone’s children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews to have the same dignity and legal standing. |
| “Like LGBTI Australians, women have also had to fight for equal treatment.” | “Like LGBTI Australians, women have also had to fight for equal treatment.” |
| • QLife is an Australian counselling service for LGBTQI+ people that operates every day between 3pm and midnight AEST. Call 1800 184 527, or visit the website to initiate a text-based chat |