Smearing Tony Abbott as a homophobe is victory for hatred (Australia's Prime Minister)

The Australian ^ | 7th May 2015 | Chris Kenny

[naturalman1975]

Given Tony Abbott has been dubbed a misogynist, Islamophobe and racist, I suppose the ­occasional allegation of homophobia shouldn’t be a surprise.

But having met Abbott through a mutual, and dear, gay friend more than 20 years ago, it has ­always bemused me. Each time it is attempted, the slur is revealed as increasingly absurd and desperate.

Christopher Pearson, a former columnist for this newspaper, was my openly gay editor at The Adelaide Review in the 1990s when he developed a friendship with ­Abbott through an organisation that was anathema to me, Australians for Constitutional Monarchy. Pearson, from the start, said Abbott was going places and ­invited the backbencher to launch a magazine issue, insisting I attend.

In those days Pearson was an “out and proud” bon vivant who, famously (or infamously), had been in a long-term relationship with the chief justice, was active in the gay liberation movement and ­was ensconced as a gadfly on the Adelaide arts scene.

.....

These are mere snippets, and it seems sad to feel the need to air them, but whatever people’s gripes with his politics or his policies, ­attempts to smear Abbott as ­homophobic can only be a triumph of hatred over humanity.

[Impala64ssa]

Dennis Miller is right. “You’re a racist!” has become the new “You’re a doodyhead!”. As far as being called islamophobe, note my tagline ;^)

[realcleanguy]

The Left Wing as created massive labeling and demeaning names to isolate and create a new type of bigotry. Left Wingers are becoming the most bigoted group of people on the planet now. Crazy

[pfony1]

Yes. Words do “matter”.

For example, I prefer the term “homo-nausea” to “homo-phobia” because the suffix “-phobia” suggests an “irrational fear” Fear? Really? Irrational? Really? Seriously, now! Didn’t those priest-abused choir boys have RATIONAL fears?

On the other hand, the suffix “-nausea” suggests disgust (which normal people feel at those deviant “behaviors”) and sickness (which may explains why rat-based research has been so unproductive).

Let’s start calling normal people “homo-nots”