I live in Los Angeles and heard a federal marriage equality bill was defeated 98-42 in Australia's House of Representatives yesterday. Can someone answer this comment I was reading on a news forum?:

"I've said it before and I'll say it again: Australia is NOT a gay-friendly country. It's a gay-hostile country where gays are frequently beaten in broad daylight. Yes, there are a few enclaves where gays are tolerated but these are generally commercial in nature, such as Oxford St in Sydney or King St in suburban Newtown, and do not represent the broader country.

The fraud all along has been that Australia is gay-friendly. This fraud has been perpetrated through tourism ads. It's a very ugly redneck country in reality."



Is this true? If it is, it sure isn't known in the states where we see Australia as one of the gay-friendliest countries in the world.

If it was one comment I would understand, but there are others like these:

"WTF ?! Kevin Rudd was all for this a few weeks ago ! Now I have no sympathy that he was stabbed in the back and pushed out of his job. The man is a liar and a snake.

What the hell is happening Australia ?

It's really non surprise when you consider how badly Australia still treats immigrant and native aborigines. Human rights are way behind there and the weak, untrustworthy Labor Party has no balls.

I hope this vote of hate kills the tourists dollars they get from gays going to Sydney Mardi Gras. Money talks folks !"

"Once again, I can't believe I'm agreeing with Jason, but he's right – Australia is NOT a gay friendly country by any means. I know several gay Australians who have said themselves that there is so much homophobia there and beatings. That was enough for me to decide it wasn't worth 24 hours to a place like that, and this story is just another reminder why I won't be going anytime soon. They don't deserve our tourism dollars."

I know a girl in Mexico and she told me what's actually happening in Mexico with the drug wars that's a different story than what the media here is giving. Only the people who live there can give you the truth and I'm glad it's not as rough over there as what's being stated.

Goodness me! A USA blog site slagging off about Australia's attitude to LGBTI people. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! The USA is certainly no epitome of respect and equal treatment of LGBTI people. Reading the comment in its original location, plus some of the following conversation, suggests a somewhat bitter and exaggerated source. Although some of the comments also give the alternative view re Australia's position. That is, the positive side. By all reports, attitudes and actions re LGBTI people varies enormously throughout the USA. Apart from the recent vote in the Australian Federal Parliament knocking back recognition of gay marriage (and there are lots of political subtleties re that), Australia has seen great advancement in GLBTI rights and acceptance in Australian societiy in recent years. It's certainly nothing like what that original quote suggests. Even on gay marriage, various State Parliaments are moving to endorce it, and general consensus is that the Federal Parliament will eventually approve. If anything, I would think that overall Australia is ahead of the USA.

Hi RQC

You said:

Love you Ann Maree. I'm glad you aren't hiding gays under the floorboards of your house from the gay bashers wandering the Australian streets. ; )

🙂 hehe. Thanks RQC! 🙂 Yes thankfully it hasn't come to smuggling people for safety but I would gladly take people in if need be.

You said:

Forestgrey,

I don't see how it's US bashing Australia when the comments sound like they come from Australians and one who knows an Australian and that's why he believes what he believes. I know The US has a bad reputation worldwide, but some of the claims in the worldwide media about the US is really over the top. Gays can get married in 6 states here and even though we don't have the progressive attitude like say in the Netherlands or Denmark, I think we're doing pretty good considering the power religious conservatives sway in the political arena.

Yes my impression was that it was a very disillusioned and emotional Australian person making the complaints about Australia rather than an American doing that so I didn't interpret the comments as the US bashing Australia. RQC, you make a good point that the US has a number of states where same sex marriage is legal whereas Australia does not. And I take heart in Obama's recent stance supporting the idea that same sex couples should be allowed to marry. I thought that was a very powerful statement.

Blessings,

Ann Maree

Oh thanks so much, RQC. 🙂 You've made my day. Things have been really rough for me of late so it's particularly nice to receive that feedback.

And yes, there's prop 8 to consider and the positive grounds made there.

I think it's very important to gain your own experiences of different countries if possible. Prior to visiting the states, I had positive impressions (as Australians we have grown up with a lot of good US TV programs and movies) but I also had this idea that Americans would be a lot of flag waving Bush supporters! And when I went to the US with my then girlfriend (who was half Danish and half American and had a lot of good friends in the states), I received a very different picture. (This was 2 weeks after Sept 11 when we travelled from the UK and people were shocked by that). Many of my girlfriend's friends were in Boston as well as other places and I found them to be open minded, intelligent, evolved, accepting, very gay friendly, creative, welcoming, and generally just wonderful people. And in Boston they understood irony that's often part of Australian humour which I thought they wouldn't get. So my visit to the states was a very positive one and I'd love to go again. And from that and other travel experiences, I decided that wherever I go it helps to be in good company, which really creates a positive impression of a place. 🙂

Blessings,

Ann Maree