[Greens-Media] Now bungling MP Donnelly must extend apology to gay and lesbian community

[Susie Gemmell]

GREENS MEDIA RELEASE
4 May 2006

Now bungling MP Donnelly must extend apology to gay and lesbian
community

Following Labor MP Greg Donnelly's apology yesterday to Coalition MPs
for disgraceful remarks he made in Parliament last month, Greens MP Lee
Rhiannon has today called on Premier Iemma to ensure his conservative
Labor colleague also extends his apology to the gay and lesbian
community for homophobic remarks he made in Parliament on the same day.

"Labor MP Greg Donnelly should be made to apologise for the
homophobic comments he made during the parliamentary debate on the
Greens' Private Members Bill that seeks to stop private schools from
legally discriminating against gay and lesbian teachers and students.

"When Greg Donnelly expressed his views in Parliament that the only
truly human way to express 'intimate acts of conjugal love' is
between married men and women, he offended the entire gay and lesbian
community.

"Premier Iemma should end this smouldering homophobia and demand that
Greg Donnelly issue a full apology to the gay and lesbian community.

"If the Premier continues to make room for these retrograde views in
his ranks, he will create growing unease and mistrust amongst
progressive Labor voters.

"The Greens are still waiting to hear whether the NSW Labor Party
will support our bill to remove the outdated sexuality and disability
exemptions from the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act.

"It will be interesting to see how members of the gay and lesbian
community in the Labor party, like Penny Sharpe, respond to the Bill. Ms
Sharpe's views are likely to vary significantly from the outdated,
offensive remarks of Mr Donnelly," said Ms Rhiannon.

Read Labor MP Greg Donnelly's speech on 6/4/06 at:
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20060406037



For more information: Susie Gemmell -  9230 3551, 0427 861 568


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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Mon, Thur)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile:  0431 458 102
Email   susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web    www.leerhiannon.org.au