Parents and friends of lesbians and gays are disappointed a Wollongong Catholic school is playing host to a talk on the ‘’impacts’’ of same-sex marriage.
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A flyer was emailed to parents at two schools inviting them to the Australian Family Association talk on Tuesday at St Therese School Hall, stating that “natural marriage must be defended in Australia before it’s too late’’.
“Same-sex marriage will effect everyone”, the flyer states. “Extreme gender ideology imposed on everyone,’’ it continued. “Children denied their mother or father’’ and ‘’freedom of speech will be lost.’’
National spokeswoman for the Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Shelley Argent, congratulated parents who are “seeing through this for what it is’’.
“I think it’s a shame the school has allowed the talk, even with the best intentions, because this group and others like them are scaremongering and using fear and ignorance,’’ Ms Argent said.
“They have no idea of the impact they have on same-sex couples and their children. They talk about concern for the children, but they have no idea of the emotional impact.’’
Ms Argent, a mother of a gay son, said she found it “highly offensive’’ when anti same-sex marriage groups “hide behind showing concern for children’’.
“When they say children deserve a mother or father, I find that offensive. I’m here to tell them the children in same-sex unions are loved and doing fine.
“The are not in an bubble, they have parents and grandparents and a whole network of people who love them.’’
Ms Argent said she was disappointed groups opposed to same-sex marriage were getting “grubby’ in their tactics in the lead-up to the federal election.
The Australian Family Association said the talk “aims to inform people on the issue of same-sex marriage and neither the message on the flyer advertising the event nor the presentation itself have a political agenda’’.
Wollongong Bishop Peter Ingham said: “It is my hope that the upcoming presentation discussing the full ideal of marriage would be done in a respectful and compassionate manner enabling people who attend to be well informed.’’