Seamus West says he is hurt and offended by an anti same-sex marriage pamphlet that has been distributed among letter boxes in Ballarat.
The 18-year-old bisexual Ballarat man received his letter in the mail yesterday.
“I was expecting it to happen because I had been warned by my friends – but I was still shocked and appalled when it actually happened,” he said.
The pamphlet was distributed by local surgeon Frederick (Peter) Denton.
On one side of the pamphlet, it shows a sad young girl. It says, “Catherine King voted for same-sex-marriage, but man-woman marriage is special because ‘I need my Mum and Dad.’ When you vote, put Catherine King last”.
The other side says, “Same-sex marriage will mean same-sex education in kindergartens and schools” with a picture of a black board listing same-sex marriage, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transexual under a sex education heading.
“Same-sex marriage, children and education are three completely different things. It doesn’t make sense,” Mr West said.
But the pamphlet stating children needed a mum and dad particularly upset him, as he has a gay uncle who has adopted twin boys.
“I hate the statement ‘I need my mum and dad’, because I know my uncle and his partner are such good parents,” he said.
Mr West travels to Melbourne every weekend because he feels safer and not as out-of-place.
“I get abuse and threats down the street in Ballarat from people I don’t know,” he said.
Mr West said he realised his sexuality when he was very young, but didn’t come out until he was 15.
Author: Nicole Cairns
Publication: The Courier
Date: 3 September 2013