I am not subjecting myself to reading this whole thread. Skimming it was enough.
Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but every right is limited, both by other rights and by the rights of others.
My right to equality is not a matter for your opinion.
Media reporting has consistently minimised this event. It has been called "pie throwing".
Someone in this thread claimed pie throwing had a long history as political comment.
It certainly has long featured as part of the comic routines of clowns.
But no pie was thrown The pie was violently ground into Alan Joyce's face, at all times held by the assailant.
This was not a comedy routine. it was not legitimate political protest. It was a criminal assault. Nothing more or less.
And it was not an isolated incident. Gay people are still subject to violence throughout our community.
I have been assaulted in the street, abused in shopping centres, insulted at traffic lights.
If the CEO of an iconic Australian company isn't safe at a corporate breakfast in a 5 star hotel, then where can any of us feel safe?
Both the assault and the reporting which has minimised its seriousness are not just symptomatic of opposition to same sex marriage.
They are symptomatic of intolerance, hostility, fear and violence towards homosexuals - and especially towards gay men - which persists.
Though today often it is the homophobia (not the love) which dares not speak its name.
There have been several undercurrrents in reporting.
One has been that Joyce somehow deserved it. That he has been too outspoken. That it wouldn't have happened if he had kept his mouth shut.
Might as well tell him to get back in the closet.
Another has been that it was all a joke and it shouldn't be taken seriously.
I am sure if a student ahd violently ground a lemon meringue pie into Julie Bishop's face - or Peter Dutton's face - they would have been dragged off by the AFP within seconds.
And there would be no suggestion that they should learn how to take a joke.
I am not an avid fan of marriage equality, because I am not an avid fan of marriage.
Personally I think marriage is an archaic, patriarchal institution which is inseparable from the opppression of women.
It is also a failed institution. Almost all marriages end in divorce.
Personally I think gay people who want to get married lack ambition.
I have no desire to conform to straight people's ridiculous notions about relationships.
But I am an avid fan of equality. And it should be up to every individual to choose whether they want to marry.
So I am a reluctant supporter of (marriage) equality.
A lot of you will think my words extreme.
Many of you haven't had to live with hate and intolerance your whole life.
You don't have the fear of random violence hanging over your head everytime you leave your house.
You haven't reported serious assaults to the police only to be laughed at and asked what you did to provoke them.
or been unable to report an assault because the police were the perpetrators.
You can't know how life feels for us, but you can ask yourself how you would feel if Alan Joyce was your son.
