Pride Adelaide won’t back down after hateful online comments
Pride Adelaide has put out a statement condemning online bigotry and homophobia after a torrent of anti-LGBT comments following Saturday’s pride march, as the organisers of two other LGBT events say they came close to cancelling for fear of retaliation.
The Adelaide pride march took place last Saturday in what the group labelled a “historic” day, with around 6000 people taking part in the march and post-march festivities at Marys Poppin bar.
In a statement posted to Facebook and Instagram on Tuesday evening, Pride Adelaide said that “following the enormous success of Pride March this past Saturday, we are deeply concerned to witness the surge of online bigotry and blatant homophobia”.
“At times like these, it is essential that our LGBTQIASB+ community and allies stand together in solidarity, fostering a sense of belonging, strength, and resilience.
“Now more than ever, supporting LGBTQIASB+ organisations and initiatives is crucial to uplifting our community and fighting against hatred and prejudice.”
Pride Adelaide spokesperson Dave Newman told InDaily that the pride committee decided unanimously to put out the statement after the organisers of two separate LGBT events came close to cancelling in response to a torrent of hateful comments following Saturday’s pride march.
He said the event organisers contacted Pride Adelaide for advice about whether they should proceed and that after an emotional conversation, they decided the events would go ahead with heightened security as part of the Feast Festival.
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“The thing that we both agreed was that this is exactly what they would want – they would want us to live in fear or us to slink away or step into the background,” he said.
“But we can’t do that because it’ll set the precedent – they’ll win and they’ll keep doing it.”
Newman told InDaily that a total of 37 inflammatory comments were removed from the Pride Adelaide Facebook page between Sunday night and Monday morning and that they also received hateful inbox messages.
“We get asked every year, ‘Why do you need a pride march?’ These comments are exactly why we need a pride march,” he said.
One comment seen by InDaily said that “next there will be a paedophile parade day”, while Newman said another person commented on a livestream of the event calling participants “1000 speed bumps”.
Newman said pride march organisers informed a SAPOL officer about the threat of violence and that police were on the lookout for any potential incidents.
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Anti-LGBT comments were also made on posts supporting the pride march on the South Australian government and the RAA Facebook pages, including those calling their support a waste of membership funds and taxpayer dollars.
The RAA has not limited who can comment on their post but a spokesperson said they are “continuing to monitor the post, as we do with all our social media, and hide comments that aren’t in line with our community guidelines”.
The South Australian government appears to have removed anti-LGBT comments from their post and has limited who can comment.
Newman said they also received messages of support and solidarity.
He said that as part of their response, Pride Adelaide would be expanding its presence through more events and advocacy,
“[Pride] is a chance for us to stand up in solidarity with our community, to be visible. It’s really about championing the fights of those who have come before us,” he said.
“We know that communities 50 years ago struggled so much more and were vilified so much more than what we feel today, but if the last couple of days have shown us anything, it’s that the vile attacks that they felt then are still prevalent today and I think that the pride march is a symbol of unity, it’s a symbol of equality and it’s a statement that we won’t be silent.”
In a statement to InDaily, Attorney-General Kyam Maher said the South Australian government continues to support LBGT equality.
“Hateful comments and behaviour will not be tolerated and do not belong in South Australia’s inclusive society,” he said.
“This Government proudly passed legislation to ban harmful conversion practices that target members of the LGBTQIA+ community.”
“As committed to prior to the election, the Government has also established an LGBTIQA+ Ministerial Advisory Committee. This body provides important advice to the Government about issues facing the community.”
When contacted for comment, SAPOL directed InDaily to contact Pride Adelaide.
