Fri 28 Sep 2007 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
The manager of a prominent LGBT support service has strongly condemned the use of homophobic and racist remarks in cyberspace - and says parents have a moral responsibility to teach their children that "all religions, races and sexual orientations deserve respect”. “Irrespective of who writes these disgusting statements on their blogs, the damage is still there,” Outline NZ (formerly Gayline/Lesbianline) General Manager Neil Denney says. Denney's comments follow the revelation that a son of high-level politician Bill English posted anti-gay abuse on a public webpage. English labeled the GayNZ.com story "a disgusting and sick attack" on his son. “While we agree with Mr. English on the freedom of teenagers to have and write their own views, we do have to wonder where these views come from,” says Denney. “English might see this as ‘a disgusting and sick attack' but we ask him to take the time to see how ‘disgusting and sick' this type of language can make a young gay or lesbian person feel if they are trying to come to a point of self acceptance." Gay and lesbian youth are five times more likely to need the assistance of a counsellor or a mental health practitioner as a result of the coming out process, Denney points out. "This can be directly linked back to the stigma attached to this type of language being used. “Gay and lesbian people of all ages are surrounded by this type of ‘disgusting and sick ‘language everyday and cannot not help but to internalize this type of homophobia," he explains. “Families that push the message of ‘family value' should recognize these views for what they are and work to teach their children positive attitudes towards all those mentioned in the blog; Jews, niggas (sic) gays and lesbians," he continues. "We should all be aware that any one of us could have a family member who may be trying to come to terms with their sexual orientation and these views are harmful to their emotional well being - and the teaching of good values starts at home, there is a moral responsibility for parents to teach your children well and that all religions, races and sexual orientations deserve respect." Denney says Outline works in a positive and affirming manner to support young gay and lesbian people to come to terms with their sexuality. “Outline NZ takes up to 5000 calls a year from gay and lesbian people and assists them, their families and whanau to work through the process of self acceptance. This type of blog speak can only make our job more difficult. "While we appreciate that it is hard to police cyberspace, we do not agree that parents have no responsibility for their children and their children's internet activities," he concludes. Ref: Outline NZ (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Friday, 28th September 2007 - 9:59am