‘Couple bashed’: Gay marriage and ‘bestiality’ comments reflect daily hate in SA

A gay couple violently bashed in front of the malls balls. The regional burlesque performer told she’d be “taken out to the bush and done away with”. Varo Lee asks why the SA government hasn’t made laws to protect the LGBTIQA community from comments like One Nation’s.

Last year, South Australia marked 50 years since landmark reforms to decriminalise homosexuality, a milestone that cemented our reputation as a national leader for social progress.

Half a century later, you’d be forgiven for thinking not much has changed. This weekend One Nation’s South Australian lead candidate, former Liberal Cory Bernardi, this weekend doubled down on comments linking gay marriage to the social acceptance of bestiality

The remarks drew swift condemnation across political lines, with openly gay Greens MP Robert Simms denouncing the politics of hatred and division, and SA-Best’s Connie Bonaros MLC branded Bernardi with the culturally appropriate term “Malakas”.

Let’s hope that unlike the common Kaurna term “Niina Marni” that welcomed him to Adelaide University last week, this is one Bernardi understands.

While the comments may come as a shock to some, for many LGBTIQA South Australians they reflect the hate and........

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