Australian Liberal Party Senator Cory Bernardi canceled an appearance at Oxford University this weekend in the wake of comments he made suggesting marriage equality might lead to calls for polygamous marriages and legal bestiality.
On Tuesday, Bernardi said in a speech in Parliament:
‘The next step [after gay marriage] is having three people that love each other enter into a permanent union endorsed by society, or four people. There are even some creepy people out there, who say that it’s okay to have consensual sexual relations between humans and animals. Will that be a future step?”
The controversial politico was scheduled to address the European Young Conservative Freedom Summit at Oxford’s St Hugh’s College but withdrew because he felt his appearance would be a “distraction.”
On Thursday night, Senator Bernardi—who was made to step down as the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s parliamentary secretary—told reporters he had been quoted out of context.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
But outrage still brewed in both Australia and the UK. ”We strongly condemn Mr Bernardi’s comments, which do not reflect David Cameron’s or the Conservative Party’s viewpoint in any way,” said Ben Howlett of Conservative Future, the youth wing of the Conservative Party.
alexoloughlin
Imagine, the republican party condemning a fellow republican’s homophobia. Well done, Ben Howlett.
Ragmatical
“The next step [after gay marriage] is having three people that love each other enter into a permanent union endorsed by society, or four people.”
Oh no, that sounds horrible. Loving people commit to each other and society minds its own damn business? Whatever will we do. -.-‘
petensfo
Taken out of context? Seriously, dude, in what context did bestiality come up?
And “distraction”? A distraction is a noisy truck passing by during your speech.
You aren’t a distraction, you’re a f’n idiot & a homophobe.
Gigi Gee
Seriously? It’s 2012 for christ sake. The same slippery slope “arguments” were made against marriage equality in Canada before it became law of the land in 2005. Guess what? Marriage is still and will only ever be a union between two committed persons of legal marrying age. NOM’s still spreading these lies in the U.S., as are the FRC and many other anti-gay hate groups. The difference is, in other parts of the country the type of hate speech expressed by Bernardi is not tolerated in other parts of the world. In America, the land of “free speech,” these bigots and homophobes are given platforms on national news outlets and are rarely ever challenged. I have no problem with these hateful troglodytes being allowed to spread their filth on national news programs but there should always be someone else on air to tell the truth. Fair and balanced, as it were.
zaneymcbanes
@Ragmatical: Agreed. Why is polygamy presented as being the worst thing in the world?
balehead
Back to the Prison Colony you go…
JayHobeSound
Notice it is always an allegedly hetero person that projects the most perverted sex acts onto The Gays. Rick Santorum and this Bernardi should hang out.