Aussie columnist equates equal marriage with AIDS

With a cross-party marriage equality bill set to go before the Australian parliament next month, the homophobes Down Under are crawling out of woodwork at an alarming rate.

Local Wagga Wagga paper The Daily Advertiser has sparked outrage online after publishing an op-ed piece by columnist Keith Wheeler, in which he states that introducing equal marriage would ‘encourage’ homosexuality and thus the transmission of HIV/AIDS.

After dismissing polls that show a majority of Australians support gay marriage because the public don’t understand the “disadvantages or consequences” of it, Wheeler says that any ‘No’ campaign should “remind Australians that gay marriage would be encouraging homosexuality”.

He continues: “AIDS and HIV are at a 20 year high. Perhaps the ‘grim reaper’ advertisements need revival as a reminder of the consequences of homosexual sex.

“Australians should consider the plight of adopted children and those needing foster care, being sent to a homosexual home. Changes to marriage laws will change Australian society forever.”

For us, this really begs the question: are homosexual homes just furnished homosexual or are they built homosexual?

He goes on: “And if we condone homosexual marriage? Polyamory, ‘marriage’ involving several people, is also awaiting recognition. It is legal in The Netherlands. ABC2 had a programme promoting this ‘fun’ variation of ‘marriage’.”

Wheeler concludes by urging readers to write to their local Australian House of Representatives member (and former editor of The Daily Advertiser – funny that) Michael McCormack in support of his opposition to marriage equality.

Naturally, the column has sparked outrage among Australians online, with some calling it “utterly disgraceful”, and others denouncing the paper’s attempt to “fight marriage equality by inciting and AIDS panic” as “beneath deplorable”.

Another added: “They say it themselves that changing marriage is merely symbolic. How do you get a disease from a symbol?”

https://twitter.com/vanbadham/status/620456417581895681

https://twitter.com/GavvieGav/status/620943843970707456

https://twitter.com/elronxenu/status/620475931182825472

@vanbadham @DailyAdvertiser 'plight of those adopted… needing foster care being sent to a homosexual home. YOU MEAN LIKE HAVING A HOME?

— RicG (@DegenerateBoy) July 13, 2015

Asutralian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, whose Liberal Party remains divided over the issue equal, is facing increased pressure to publicly back equality from the likes of Cara Delevingne and the Australian National Rugby League in the wake of recent event in Ireland and the USA.

Here’s hoping their impassioned pleas for equality carry further stronger than Mr Wheeler’s vitriolic rants…

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