One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts stated he is "in two minds" about whether gay people should have equal rights, citing his personal inability to understand homosexuality and the potential societal impact of "banning" them. His comments at a conservative Christian conference drew criticism from Equality Australia.
Senator Malcolm Roberts' public expression of uncertainty regarding equal rights for gay people highlights ongoing debates about LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity within Australian politics, particularly within the One Nation party. His comments, and the subsequent criticism, underscore the tension between conservative Christian viewpoints and modern democratic values concerning equality and human rig
One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts revealed he is "in two minds" about whether gay people should have equal rights, according to footage from the June Church and State conference. Roberts, responding to a question about the party's director, James Ashby, who is gay, joked about Ashby being "straight in one way." He cited the late bishop John Shelby Spong, who suggested that after women and black people, gay people were next to be recognized as "inferior." Roberts stated, "Now I’m in two minds about that," adding, "I haven’t got a firm position on it myself other than I don’t, I’m not homosexual and I can’t, I can’t understand it." He also noted the prominence of homosexual individuals in various fields and questioned if society could "afford to ban them," calling it "difficult."
Anna Brown, Chief Executive of Equality Australia, expressed shock at Roberts' comments, particularly the idea of "banning" people, calling it "incredibly chilling" and incompatible with a democratic society. She reminded the senator that being gay and having faith are not mutually exclusive and do not determine moral soundness.
The conference organizer, Dave Pellowe, also spoke about "loud, screaming activists" pressuring medical health professions to stop treating same-sex attraction as an illness. The footage also showed Roberts vowing to push for a blanket abortion ban and asserting that life begins at conception, positions that may contradict Pauline Hanson's stated stances. The article also references past controversial comments about homosexuality from One Nation representatives and related figures.