Same-sex parents have condemned leaflets authorised by an Eaglehawk man that compare their children to the Stolen Generations.
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The political material, left on cars around the Trevor Barker Beach Oval during the Sandringham v Footscray VFL match on April 23, was signed off by Brendan Keogh from Eaglehawk.
The A5-sized advertisement criticises plans for a gay pride-themed match between Sydney and St Kilda football clubs in August under the heading “Children deserve a mother and a father”.
“By support for the same- sex- (sic) attracted agenda with a Pride Game you are saying that you don’t support natural marriage,” the leaflet read.
“Two men cannot replace a child’s mother.
“Two women cannot replace a child’s father.”
Rebecca Madsen, who runs advocacy group Gay Parents Australia, said it was people like Mr Keogh who were endangering children’s wellbeing, not same-sex attracted mothers and fathers.
“My initial thoughts are that I’d love to invite this person to my home for our traditional Sunday roast lunch so they can get an insight into our loving home and find out for themselves how brilliant we are,” Ms Madsen said.
“However, my next thought is, why should I put my children on the line to be on the receiving end of what would be the first time they have experienced hate speech in their lives?”
Mr Keogh was contacted for comment but would only say he agreed with the leaflet’s sentiments, and attributed its authorship to the founders of website another-stolen-generation.com.
The brochure directs readers to the website, which also lashes out at beyondblue chief executive officer Jeff Kennett and corporate backers of marriage equality for their support of the LGBTI cause.
The Bendigo Advertiser contacted the website’s creators, but did not receive a response.
Mr Keogh also said it was not the role of football clubs to take a stance on LGBTI issues.
“In my day, you sent your child to a football club to teach them a bit of character, a bit of stamina,” he said.
Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby co-convenor Sean Mulcahy said it was disappointing Mr Keogh was using football for political purposes, and he commended the AFL for taking a stand on gay rights.
“The AFL has an Indigenous round and a women’s round, so what’s the problem with a match that celebrates the contributions that LGBTI people have made to football?” he asked.
“Whether it’s dropping the kids off at Auskick or staffing the canteen at the junior footy, LGBTI people are at every level of the game.”
"These pamphlets are an attack on single parents, on single mums that are raising kids - many who have grown up to be AFL footballers - on single dads, on grandparents raising their grandkids and on rainbow families.
The Sydney v St Kilda pride match takes place at Etihad Stadium on August 13.