troye sivan points out the hypocrisy of prime minister malcolm turnbull’s orlando comments
The singer and queer activist is asking Australia to examine its own treatment of the LGBT community: "We don't need sympathy. We need rights. Let us marry."
Photography Leon Mark
In the wake of the horrific mass shooting in an Orlando gay club over the weekend, countless individuals around the world have taken to social media to express their support and work through their own grief. Among them was Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who tweeted a personal message, simply reading: "All Australians stand with the people of the United States today, against terror and against hate." He then linked to a statement from the Liberal party.
While the Prime Minister mentioned hate, his failure to directly reference the LGBT community was widely noted. Australian musician and queer activist Troye Sivan responded to Mr Turnbull, highlighting the hypocrisy of the statement given Australia's own treatment of the LGBT community. Australia is the last developed English-speaking country not to allow same-sex couples to marry.
While there is no doubt the Prime Minister's sympathy was real, it's also vital to fully acknowledge the lives that were transformed by violence over the weekend. In the shadow of something like this, it's important to focus on how we can make our own communities safer and more inclusive. As Australia falls farther and farther behind on global issues of queer representation and rights we need to really ask ourselves how we'll continue to fight for love and acceptance at home.
