Most people most of the time in the Australian setting are proud to be Aussie. After all, we are a multicultural society which over the years has taken in refugees, accepts the heritage of Indigenous Australians, and as of 2017 has legalised same-sex marriage, a huge step for the LGBT community.

However, in the last week my pride for my home country has taken a beating.

I suppose I should start from the beginning. First of all, I do not follow rugby or sport in general. But earlier this year, I saw on the news an uproar over a social media post by a rugby union player. On 10th April, Israel Folau: a member of the New South Wales Waratahs, posted a bible passage to Instagram,

“Warning: Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolaters, hell awaits you. Repent! Only Jesus saves.”

 

As a result, Folau’s $4m contract with Rugby Australia was terminated last Friday.

In a statement issued last week, Rugby Australia stated,

“The content within the post is unacceptable. It does not represent the values of the sport and is disrespectful to members of the Rugby community.”

Below is a statement read on behalf of Rugby Australia.

 

As a member of the LGBT community, I find it hard reading and hearing things from people who express hatred towards our particular lifestyle. I have always felt that as a minority group, people expect to be able to put you down, and you have no right to defend yourself or seek justice in any form.

When I read of Rugby Australia’s decision last Friday I felt victorious: like justice has been served for the LGBT community.

However, I was not prepared for the backlash.

“I will never support Rugby Australia again”,

“Whatever happened to religious freedom?”, and

“I thought we had freedom of speech!”

 

Naturally, a significant level of debate has been sparked by Rugby Australia’s decision. One side of the fence sees Folau’s post as offensive and hateful to the LGBTQ community.

However, there is another side to the fence; a side which argues that Folau’s dismissal was unjust, as the post wasn’t exclusively referring to homosexuals. I am more than happy to address the arguments which I’ve quoted above.

Firstly, there is no such thing as “Freedom of Speech” in Australia. In the US, freedom of speech is guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Australia does not have this; hence freedom of speech is more of a privilege than a right.

 

The other side argues that Folau’s post was simply a passage from the bible, and addressed several walks of life, not just homosexuals. Furthermore, Rugby Australia is accused of stifling religious freedom which, according to some,

“…religious freedom ended when same-sex marriage was passed”.

But I ask, in the interest of religious freedom, is it acceptable to preach the stoning of rape victims? Is it acceptable to preach the punishment given to women accused of adultery?

With everything, it is essential to move with the times, and while most have moved past the concept of treating women like second class citizens, it seems the same cannot be said for the LGBT community.

 

Moving away from religious views, I feel the need to point out the legalities within Folau’s contract with Rugby Australia.

In the past ten years, employers and institutions have had to move with the times and add the activities within the online world to their code of conduct.

In the case of online activity, it is straightforward. Any negative material posted on social media about the company or organisation you are representing, or any material that could be interpreted as racist, homophobic, sexist, sexually explicit, discriminatory, or of a harassing nature will result in disciplinary action for the individual(s) involved, which may include instant dismissal.

This is not a quote from anywhere, but more a generalisation of the fine print in most contracts of employment nowadays.

To put it simply, if something you have to say is too offensive to say to someone in person, it is also too offensive to say online. If Folau was working in a fast food restaurant and vocalised the material of his infamous Instagram post to a customer, he would expect to face disciplinary action.

 

Anyone who has glanced at A Word From Brett knows my stance on the LGBT community. I believe that all minority groups have the right to live peacefully with equal rights, and not face discrimination or oppression.

The sad reality is that in Australia, 16% of LGBT people aged between 16 and 27 have attempted suicide in their lifetime. In the entire general population, LGBT people are six times more likely to attempt suicide.

 

I was always so proud of my home country. In my time I have seen everyday heroes fighting through floods and bushfires; re-building communities with that old tough Aussie spirit. But in the last two years, I have seen a different side to Australia. It is a side which demonstrates not just an intolerance but a hatred towards minority groups. The last state to de-criminalise homosexuality was Tasmania in 1997, yet on every piece of LGBT publicity, television show, even social media post, there are people who spit at them and tell them they have no right to exist. Even in the past few years our political leaders have faced backlash over accepting refugees whose home countries have been plagued by war. We even see commercials from companies boasting that the employees in their call centres are Aussie, as if people of other nationalities have no right to work and support their families.

When did Australia become so closed minded and closed hearted to other walks of life? Sadly, I feel this has always been the Australian way. We excluded Australia’s first people for centuries, and now we’re trying to exclude LGBT’s and foreigners, to name a couple. As it is, newly elected One Nation MP Mark Latham has stated in parliament that he supports Folau, and believes his religious freedom has been breached. Below is a clip from Nine News.

I am of the opinion that we are all equal and as such deserve equal rights and opportunity. This is why I have never, and will never support Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, as I believe it’s main goal is to exclude minority groups in order to benefit the majority.

 

To sum up the dismissal of Israel Folau, I am completely behind it. Vilification and hatred towards minority groups, whether in the name of religion or not, needs to become a thing of the past. It is particularly disgraceful coming from a person representing Rugby Australia who many young people look up to and aspire to be like. Time will tell if Folau’s appeal with Rugby Australia will succeed.

Please don’t get me wrong. While I do not identify as having a Christian faith, I am still open to people expressing their faith and religious beliefs. However, religion should promote a sense of peace and tranquility, not hatred and persecution.

 

Thank you for reading this week’s post. I realise that not all readers will agree with my point of view, and the fact that I support the dismissal of Israel Folau, but I just wish to convey the LGBT perspective, in hope that people can understand how it feels to be bullied, even if it isn’t directly.

 

My love to all readers until next time,

Xoxo Brett