Homosexuality and “hate speech”

Posted on June 19, 2016 
Filed under Culture wars, Opinion

Assoc Prof Neil Foster“Simply expressing opposition to homosexuality from a religious perspective, not accompanied by incitement to violence, should not be classified as unlawful ‘hate speech’.

The terrible events at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people were killed by a man claiming to act in the name of the so-called ‘Islamic State’ group, have naturally generated much heated comment online and in the news media. As others have noted, this was almost a ‘perfect storm’ of hot-button controversies in the world today: Islam, homosexuality and gun control being some of the main ones.

… it might be worth reminding ourselves of some facts about homosexuality, religious perspectives, and the idea of ‘hate speech’. I’d like to offer five propositions, and comment on them briefly…”

– Neil Foster (Assoc Prof. in Law) provides some clarity on ‘hate speech’ in the context of current events. Read it all at the link.

Related:

Shorten, Greens dismay gay marriage foes – News.com.au

“Anti-gay-marriage groups have slammed comments by Labor and the Greens linking a national vote on same-sex marriage to the deadly Orlando mass shooting.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten backed away from associating a plebiscite with gay hate crime on Saturday, after earlier making reference to the mass killing, but he said he was concerned ‘ugly arguments’ would emerge.’