vintage outrage continued...

 because I am just starting up my letters blog, I am putting up some really old ones.

I actually got a response to this one with an official letter from the Minister letting me know that she had changed her mind about her choice of ambassadors. Who said being an eternally outraged nerd never got you anywhere?

 

 

 

Dear Minister,

 

I am writing to you to express my concern about your appointment of Warwick Marsh, President of the Fatherhood Foundation, and Barry Williams, President of the Lone Fathers Association as Men's Health Ambassadors. Whilst I do not doubt that either men have contributed in their own ways to men's issues, I believe that views expressed by both of these individuals run against the course of responsible men's health promotion.

 

The views expressed in their co-authored "21 Reasons Why Gender Matters" (http://redirect.cmailer.com.au/LinkRedirector.aspx?clid=67c2f115-ac2a-407a-87b8-23956775a576&rid=f5dec61a-01a8-450f-af44-922e4812062d  ) are inflammatory, homophobic and certaintly counterproductive in the light of high rates of depression and suicide in the gay and lesbian community, in particular young gay men. The opinions of your newly appointed "ambassadors" are posed in a pseudo-scientific and flawed manner, and are certainly not welcome within the wider community. Homosexuality is not a behaviour that is 'immature' or abnormal and most certainly does not lead to higher rates of drug use, crime or violence as suggested by these men. Spurious claims are also made within this document that suggest that the gay community contributes to a decline in health of not only their families, but the community as a whole.

 

Whilst I commend your government on the very recent changes to equality laws nationally, I do not believe that the selection of spokespeople such as Mr Marsh and Williams is in the spirit of an equal and just Australia.

 

I ask you minister to please seriously reconsider the appointment of these two men in the interest of responsible health promotion. I do not believe that the views of these men are in line with the views of either you or the broader electorate, and I urge you to take swift action in replacing Mr Warwick Marsh and Mr Barry Williams as health ambassadors.

 

I look forward to your response in relation to this matter, and hope that it may be resolved in the progressive style which has characterised your government to date.

 

Sincerely, 

 

Me