The deputy editor of the Launceston Examiner, Aaron Lakin, has criticised Christians who claim they are being persecuted by advocates for same-sex marriage.
In a column in the paper’s Sunday edition, Lakin wrote,
“Martyrdom is the new black. Religious conservatives claimed the position of the downtrodden last week, arguing the debate over same-sex marriage had become so poisonous they were unable to speak out against changing the marriage act without being persecuted. They were able to make these proclamations, free from persecution, in media outlets around the country. I.R.O.N.Y.”
Lakin’s column came after the Examiner published a column from religious conservative Claire van Ryn in which she accused supporters of marriage equality of “demonology, intimidation and scaremongering”, without giving a single example. Van Ryn’s column has been criticised in a news report, as well as letters to the editor.
In his column Lakin went on to say that real persecution is “to deny a person the opportunity to express their love in the form of civil marriage simply because the one they love happens to be the same sex as them.”
He also took aim at the argument that same-sex marriages should not be allowed because children from homes with both male and female parents do better.
“Let’s assume religious conservatives are right that children are better off living with a mum and dad.”
“Children born into families on Sydney’s eastern shore do better than those born in Tasmania. Will we be banning…Tasmanians from getting married next?”
Lakin joins other prominent Tasmanian columnists in expressing frustration at those who oppose marriage equality.
Writing recently in the Hobart Mercury, columnist, Rebecca Fitzgibbon, condemned the “flawed logic” and “discriminatory philosophy” of opponents of marriage equality adding that until minority religious groups stop holding back marriage equality “we will not be a truly democratic society”.
Writing in the Burnie Advocate, Kye White went further, condemning the “bigotry” of opponents of equality and warning that future Australians will be “ashamed” about the current situation.
“We can only pretend to live in a society that values equality as long as there is no marriage equality”, he wrote.
Both the Burnie Advocate and the Hobart Mercury have had an editorial policy in favour of marriage equality since 2010.
For Aaron Lakin’s column, click here
For Claire van Ryn’s column, click here
For an Examiner news item in response to van Ryn column, click here
For Rebecca Fitzgibbon’s column, click here
For Kye White’s column, click here