Josh Thomas Stands Up To “No” Voters, Floods Twitter With Stories Of Homophobic Abuse
#TheyGetToVote
This post details homophobic abuse and violence.
Members of Australia’s LGBTIQ+ community are sharing their most confronting stories about homophobic abuse they have experienced or witnessed, in order to demonstrate the real-world repercussions of the upcoming survey into marriage equality.
The #TheyGetToVote hashtag was started by comedian and actor Josh Thomas after star rugby player Israel Falou tweeted about his opposition to marriage equality.
I love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions. but personally, I will not support gay marriage.✌❤?
— Israel Folau (@IzzyFolau) September 13, 2017
Also, I know we are trying to have a ‘civil debate’ but fuck you. You don’t love, nor respect me if you are voting no. You want to hurt me. https://t.co/NV9DSbBQyw
— Josh Thomas (@JoshThomas87) September 13, 2017
New hashtag: #TheyGetToVote. Where you say the homophobic abuse you’ve received or witnessed and remind the ‘no’ people what team the are on
— Josh Thomas (@JoshThomas87) September 13, 2017
Mardi Gras morning, I see car stop on oxford street-4 men jump out. Push a gay to the ground, break his teeth. They drive off #TheyGetToVote
— Josh Thomas (@JoshThomas87) September 13, 2017
Hundreds of people have since shared their experiences using the hashtag, revealing the difference between the complaints of marriage equality opponents who feel “bullied” by the Yes campaign, and those of queer people who live with the daily threat of physical violence.
The stories are extremely upsetting, which is precisely why they need to be shared.
The guy who yelled “fag” from the window of a moving car as he threw a whole orange at me. I was 17. #TheyGetToVote
— “Author” (@CAricHanley) September 13, 2017
The person who spat on me and called me a faggot when I was dancing with my boyfriend #TheyGetToVote https://t.co/pi9L78DcqC
— Brodi Lucas (@brodilucas) September 13, 2017
I held a boys hand at school and was pelted with rocks then they threw me in the urinal. Teacher told me to, “be more aware.” #TheyGetToVote
— BM (@macleanbrendan) September 13, 2017
Head shoved into toilet wall, called a faggot and stalked by threatening school bullies who wanted to beat my brains in. #TheyGetToVote
— Matt Bachl (@mattbachl) September 13, 2017
In addition to stories of physical violence, people also shared their experiences with bullying and discrimination.
my extended family found out i liked girls and called me a genetic deformity and kicked me out of the house #TheyGetToVote
— ola (@trainwreckdua) September 13, 2017
i was told by a trusted church leader when i was 11 that “it’s okay if you’re gay, you’re just never allowed to love anyone” #TheyGetToVote
— sarah (@underrexposed) September 13, 2017
A whole class peer pressuring a girl into wearing a dress to the formal bc a girl in a suit would have “ruined the picture” #TheyGetToVote
— JustineRose (@justinerosieee) September 13, 2017
My “friends” put all of my school locker contents into the bin and emptied an expired yogurt on top ’cause I liked girls too. #TheyGetToVote
— Quack Juice (@QuackJuice) September 13, 2017
These heartbreaking stories are also reflected by the research.
According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are three times as likely to experience depression than heterosexual cisgender Australians. 61 percent have reported experiencing verbal homophobic abuse, while 18 percent report experiencing physical abuse. 80 percent of homophobic bullying involving young people occurs at school.
Additionally, young LGBTIQ+ people are five times more likely to attempt suicide compared to the general population. For transgender people, that number more than doubles.
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If you’d like to talk to someone after reading this (or at any point during the marriage equality campaign), QLife is a national counselling service for LGBTQI+ people, which operates between 3pm and midnight AEST every day. You can get in touch with them by calling 1800 184 527, or visiting their website if you’d prefer or require a text-based chat.
Read about your other options here.