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Mark Latham sued over homophobic tweet

Mark Latham is being sued by New South Wales independent MP Alex Greenwich, after he failed to apologise for a "disgusting" homophobic tweet. Greenwich said he will initiate defamation proceedings against the One Nation NSW leader in the coming days, after he gave Latham until Thursday May 18th to issue an apology for the tweet against the openly gay member for Sydney. Greenwich confirmed the legal action would proceed after being by Latham's lawyers that he had no intention of apologising. <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/mark-latham-under-fire-over-disgusting-homophobic-tweet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Latham's tweet</a> made headlines in March, after the politicians became engaged in a war of words over Twitter when discussing <span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;">the violent protest at St Michael's Church in Sydney's west, which saw members of the LGBTQIA+ community be attacked by religious extremists. <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">More than a dozen LGBTQIA+ protesters were ambushed by hundreds of men outside an event at the church where Mr Latham spoke about parental rights and religious freedom. <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">In an article Mr Greenwich called Mr Latham a "disgusting human being" who risks causing a "great deal of damage to our state". <p class="_39n3n" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: abcsans, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif;">Latham was quick to respond on Twitter, saying "That's disgusting?" What about..." followed by a graphic and homophobic comment that OverSixty has chosen not to publish. Greenwich said his decision to take legal action against Latham was something that required much consideration, but something he feels he must do. "This is not a process I enter into lightly, and a process I wish I didn't have to engage in," Greenwich said in a statement. "However, Mr Latham's homophobic, sexualised attack has exposed me to contempt, ridicule and extreme abuse, based on my sexuality, and demands actions." Greenwich has lodged a complaint of homosexual vilification and sexual harassment against Latham with Anti-Discrimination NSW. He has also made a police complaint against Latham for using a carriage service to menace, harass and offend. "It's 2023 and LGBTQIA+ Australians shouldn't have to put up with abuse that targets our sexuality, character, or ability to do our jobs," Greenwich said. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Mark Latham under fire over "disgusting" homophobic tweet

Mark Latham has been condemned by both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and One Nation senator Pauline Hanson for a "disgusting" homophobic tweet. The One Nation NSW leader took aim at independent MP Alex Greenwich, an openly gay man, who was discussing the recent violent protest at St Michael's Church in Sydney's west which saw members of the LGBTQIA+ community be attacked by religious extremists. More than a dozen LGBTQIA+ protesters were ambushed by hundreds of men outside an event at the church where Mr Latham spoke about parental rights and religious freedom. In an article Mr Greenwich called Mr Latham a "disgusting human being" who risks causing a "great deal of damage to our state". Latham was quick to respond on Twitter, saying "That's disgusting?" What about..." followed by a graphic and homophobic comment that OverSixty has chosen not to publish. Mr Greenwich said he didn't want to directly respond to the now-deleted tweet. "I understand this tweet has been taken down, and I don't intend to engage with the matter further," he said in a statement. "My focus in the parliament will be working with the majority of members who support the LGBTQ community to progress important reforms." One Nation founder and leader Pauline Hanson said she and her party associates did not condone the remarks and she has asked Mr Latham to apologise publicly. "I think (the comments) are disgusting," she said in a video on Facebook. "I've actually tried to ring Mark a couple of times to no avail and I have clearly sent a text message to him telling him my views." Anthony Albanese also condemned Latham's comments, telling 10 News "hateful speech" is never warranted and added nothing to public disclosure. "I am concerned that with social media we seem to have a circumstance whereby people would say things through various applications they'd never say to someone face to face and we know that can be very hurtful and it can have drastic consequences." Image credits: Getty Images

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Calls for World Cup boycott after "awful" homophobic slur

A Qatari World Cup ambassador has come under fire for an "awful" homophobic comment, causing several countries to call for a boycott of the event. In an interview on German TV, former footballer and ambassador Khalid Salman called homosexuality a “damage in the mind”, sparking criticism in Europe just 12 days before the tournament kicks off. Salman said Qatar will accept gay visitors but “they have to accept our rules”, before saying homosexuality was “haram” - forbidden in Islam - during the interview, which was abruptly broken off after his comments. In the lead up to the World Cup, Qatar has come under fire for their human rights record, including its treatment of foreign workers and its stance on women’s and LGBTQ rights. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Tuesday called Salman’s comments “awful”. “That is also the reason why we are working to hopefully improve things in Qatar in the future,” said Faeser, who is also Germany’s minister for sport. Faeser said last week on a visit to Qatar that she will attend the World Cup after being given a “guarantee of safety” for LGBTQ fans by Qatar’s prime minister. The comments have prompted several sporting captains from European countries, including England, France and Germany, to call for a boycott of the event. To show their support for their LGBTQ fans, they will wear armbands in rainbow colours with the message “One Love” during the tournament in an anti-discrimination campaign. “No matter your race, your religion, your social and sexual orientation, you are most welcome, and Qataris are ready to receive you with the best hospitality that you can imagine,” FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura said last week. But Wenzel Michalski, the head of Human Rights Watch in Germany, warned there was “a big risk” that open displays of homosexuality in Qatar “will be punished – no matter what assurances there are”. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

“Homophobic” line removed from Spider-Man

A “homophobic” line from the action fantasy 2002 Spider-Man film has been removed following a recent airing on Britain’s ITV2. The first film of the trilogy starring Tobey Maguire aired on TV recently, with one eagle-eyed fan noticing the change. “They removed Peter Parker’s homophobia,” the Twitter user wrote along with a clip of the scene. The scene where the line was cut is at the beginning of the film where Peter Parker is learning about his newfound skills and went to a wrestling match. He is seen hanging on the cage away from pro wrestler Bone Saw and says: "That's a cute outfit. Did your husband give it to you?" However, the scene changed to just say: “That’s a cute outfit”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> THEY REMOVED PETER PARKER'S HOMOPHOBIA <a href="https://t.co/QmbFabVpc7">pic.twitter.com/QmbFabVpc7</a> — PaperPlane (@PaperPlaneTF) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaperPlaneTF/status/1517947398936535040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2022</a></blockquote> The Twitter user however pointed out that the original line was in fact “not homophobic. It's been a joke for a little while now that Spider-Man is insensitive to this man's husband.” Many people praised the change, while others questioned why they couldn’t use something else that doesn’t attack sexuality. “Why cut the joke out entirely? Why not try to change it somehow?” someone asked. “So many things happen in this world, countless deaths, robberies, and many other things. And what makes people mad is a JOKE in a SPIDER-MAN MOVIE. Learn to take a joke. seriously. And the intent behind it wasn’t even bad, y’all just want something to be mad about,” another wrote. “The fact that they removed a joke is baffling guess comedy is hate speech,” someone mentioned. “What was wrong with the joke in the first place?” a user asked. “Everyone can’t seem to understand that Spider-Man says this because Bonesaw is very clearly a big, burly macho man (no pun intended) alpha-male, kinda guy with his own team of 4 beautiful women/cheerleaders at the ringside and implying that he’s gay is a good way to rile him up,” another explained. Image: Twitter

Movies

Jacqui Lambie denies gay slur claim: “I’m not a homophobe”

Controversial senator Jacqui Lambie has pushed back at claims she is homophobic after her burst of rage at Qantas staff in March. The Age reported on Thursday morning that Ms Lambie had threatened staff members with “p*ssy power.” She reportedly also referred to Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce, who is gay, with a homophobic slur. “Your CEO is a poof,” she was reported to have said during the incident on March 25. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841492/daily-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/970b0109934c494799ae40daf96b7d40" /> The outburst is alleged to have been made in the Chairman’s Lounge in Melbourne. However on Friday, the Tasmanian politician vehemently denied the claims. She admitted she was out of line to “blow her top” at a Qantas worm after a long day, but refuses any accusations she said anything homophobic. “I never said it. I’d never say that. I know I can’t just deny it and expect people to believe me, so I went and got proof,” she said. “I’ve got witnesses confirming I never said it. Qantas doesn’t think I said it. “I’m not a homophobe, and I don’t know why someone is anonymously accusing me of being one. It never happened. “What did happen was I blew my top at a Qantas worker who didn’t deserve it, and I apologised to them, I’ll apologise now, and I’ll wear the consequences. “But I can’t apologise for something I never did. I never used that homophobic slur. Anyone who knows me knows it’s something I’d never do.” The leader Jacqui Lambie explained she had been banned by Qantas for six months on Thursday for blowing up at staff behind the embarrassing measure. Ms Lambie revealed to Today that she had apologised after she “blew her stack” at staff. “I have apologised profusely, I went on a rant and I deserve everything I got from Qantas,” she said. “I’ve tried to apologise to those staff members and I’ve even written a letter myself apologising for that a few months ago. “That ban will stay – I deserve every bit of that ban, and once again I am profusely apologetic to those staff members involved.” The Tasmanian senator said regrets blowing her top at Qantas employees after a long and hard day, during the Today show on Thursday. “It had been a long few weeks up in parliament, and it’s just been a really, really long year,” she said. “Basically, I blew my stack. “Unfortunately, there were a couple of Qantas staff members that wore that, and they should never have worn that, and basically it was really unfair of me to do what I did to them. “I am extremely apologetic for my behaviour for that few minutes.” Karl Stefanovic offered a cheeky suggestion for the politician. “If you want to let off some steam just call Ali or me,” he joked in reference to co-host Allison Langdon. “I’ve got your number,” Ms Lambie returned. Image: Getty

News

"Homophobic": Scott Cam strikes back at The Block contestants in another heated exchange

Tension have continued to run high on another episode of The Block as the fiery couple Mitch and Mark went head to head with Scott Cam. On Sunday night, Mitch and Mark blew up at the show’s host for constantly referring to their upstairs living area as a “party room,” and implied he was judging their lifestyle. The accusation made for an uncomfortable exchange in which Cam insisted he was delivering the feedback by the judges who praised contestants El’ise and Matt for designing their bedroom from the “noisy people” next door. While Mitch said he wished to put the argument to bed, footage aired on Monday night's episode of him saying Scott should :”Go f**k himself”. “By 2019 homophobic innuendos are f***ing not on,” Mitch furiously said to Cairns couple Tess and Luke while backstage. “F***ing done with comments from people like him, aimed at people like me. Go f**k yourself,” he exclaimed. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2MHu1SAZlu/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2MHu1SAZlu/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Block (@theblock)</a> on Sep 9, 2019 at 4:49am PDT </div> </blockquote> Cam later approached the couple to “clear the air” by saying: “I want to make it clear when I say and when the judges say you’re designing a home for people like you — they’re referring to cashed up empty nesters like me and my wife, like you guys, like some of our friends who are in their 50s — that’s who we’re referring to. “It’s a bit concerning,” he continued. “Nothing could be further from the truth if you thought we were just referring to something about sexuality or gay couples, that is absolutely not the case,” Cam said. Mark responded “You and I had joked about it being a ‘party house’, that it’s about people partying, going out, late nights and I said no we don’t do that anymore … “There was that connection made, but I understand now and I accept what you’re saying.” Cam reiterated he meant no offence and said he was “flabbergasted” as to why they were so impacted, but still felt sorry. While Mark accepted the apology, the situation escalated when Cam pointed out the couple had a “service kitchen” in a living area which would in fact make their space an entertainment area. “A kitchen that wraps around the room to service the living area with a bar area and food service points … you keep saying this is not the party house, which we’re not going to call it anymore … ” the host began said before Mitch interjected; “It’s an entertaining space.” Cam became frustrated and added: “By the way, I know things were said about me, with regard to my character about you guys, and I don’t accept that. “I was offended and I was expecting you to say sorry once I explained it, but you didn’t say sorry you said ‘thank you’,” Mark muttered “oh well,” after Scott stormed off and Mitch responded to his partner, “whoops”. The contestants have called their house an “entertainers home” for “cashed up empty nesters like us” in the past.

News

“Are you judging us?”: The Block contestants lash out at Scott Cam for homophobic remarks

The Block’s Mitch and Mark have hit out at host Scott Cam over his “inappropriate and offensive” comments. On last night’s episode, Cam’s delivery of the judges’ feedback on El’ise and Matt’s bedroom design turned into a tense exchange after the host referred to Mitch and Mark’s third level living room as a “party room” and house 1 as the “noisy” neighbours. After Cam told the pair that the other team had adjusted their plans “to get away from the noisy people in your place”, Mark interjected. “There’s no noisy people,” Mark said. “People need to cope with the fact that there are multiple living spaces in all metropolitan homes and they need to actually step away from it because they have no idea.” Mitch added, “It is a living space as any house in any suburban part of Australia has. And if they’re making a judgement about us – because they’ve often said, ‘People like us’ – I need to understand what does that mean? Are you judging us?” “You need to step away from that,” Mark told Cam. The TV presenter responded, “I don’t need to step away from nothing, mate … I’m the one reading the feedback. I don’t think it’s wrong, but anyway.” The scene has divided viewers, with many agreeing that Cam should apologise to the couple for what they saw as homophobic remarks. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Go Mitch and Mark. Stand up to that nonsense. It has connotations. It isn't funny. Complicit. It implies a lot <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBlock?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheBlock</a> — Rue (@Rudoxxx) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rudoxxx/status/1170640018487922688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> The blatant homophobia on The Block is getting a little too much and a little too frequent. Quite disappointing. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/theblock?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#theblock</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/theblockAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#theblockAU</a> <a href="https://t.co/evxrcYZhL0">pic.twitter.com/evxrcYZhL0</a> — Troy Lester (@TroyLester) <a href="https://twitter.com/TroyLester/status/1170642803753275392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Scotty Cam’s comment (and it was his comment, not the judges) was casual homophobia. Disappointing because I love <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBlock?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheBlock</a>. Very proud of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MitchandMark?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MitchandMark</a> for standing up for themselves. — Brodi Lucas (@brodilucas) <a href="https://twitter.com/brodilucas/status/1170658802808451072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Hearing Scotty, an old straight white guy made a dig at the one gay couple <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBlock?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheBlock</a> <a href="https://t.co/5ta7REeji3">pic.twitter.com/5ta7REeji3</a> — Weslee (@WSpark98NZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/WSpark98NZ/status/1170680417462054912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> If Mitch and Mark were any other couple on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/theblock?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#theblock</a>, that room would be described as a ‘parents retreat’ or living area. Let’s all move on. It’s a room with a couch. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBlockAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheBlockAU</a> — Loren (@leapinloren) <a href="https://twitter.com/leapinloren/status/1170641314980884481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2019</a></blockquote> Mitch later said in a to-camera interview, “I find these comments inappropriate and offensive and I’d rather just leave that alone. I’d rather just leave it alone totally.” In an episode aired last Monday, Mitch claimed Cam had made similar comments in other occasions. “Scott Cam has said to me, ‘This is a party house, for people like … us’,” the Sydneysider told producers. “I don’t know what he means. Is he making a judgement about gay people? That because of our age, and that we’re gay, that we’re going to be partying? If he’s making a judgement like that, when he doesn’t know who we are, then that’s a homophobic comment.”

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Mark Latham sued over homophobic tweet

Mark Latham under fire over "disgusting" homophobic tweet

Calls for World Cup boycott after "awful" homophobic slur

“Homophobic” line removed from Spider-Man

Jacqui Lambie denies gay slur claim: “I’m not a homophobe”

"Homophobic": Scott Cam strikes back at The Block contestants in another heated exchange

“Are you judging us?”: The Block contestants lash out at Scott Cam for homophobic remarks

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