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Author Topic: Many Australians still homophobic?
Hephaestion
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posted 26 July 2005 10:45 PM      Profile for Hephaestion   Author's Homepage        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
(Sydney, Australia) A new study on the extent of homophobia in Australia shows that despite the country's reputation for welcoming gays there remain many areas where anti-gay sentiment is strong.


The study, released by the Australia Institute, is the biggest survey of public attitudes towards gays and lesbians ever undertaken in the country. 


Called, Mapping Homophobia in Australia, it questioned 24,718 people aged 14 and over and was carried out by Roy Morgan Research for the AI. 


It found that Queensland and Tasmania were the most homophobic states, with the Northern Territory coming close behind.


The most gay accepting state is Victoria.


The researchers found even cosmopolitan Sydney was rife with homophobia.


While the inner-city with its large gay community was mostly tolerant of gays and same-sex relationships, the city's southern suburbs were distinctly homophobic.


The study also determined that despite the views of the Roman Catholic Church on homosexuality and same-sex relationships Catholics were among the least homophobic people in Australia.




edited to add:

Suzette:

Your complaint is totally valid, and I've edited the post to reflect that. My apologies.

[ 27 July 2005: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]


From: goodbye... :-( | Registered: Dec 2003  |  IP: Logged
Suzette
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posted 26 July 2005 11:46 PM      Profile for Suzette     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Yeah, we are proud to have a world monopoly on homophobia; in fact, the tourism board actively promotes it! We hate Asians and Aborigines, too! If you like to get down and dirty with sheep, jump on a plane and pay us a visit! But don't forget your corked hat and barbeque tongs!
From: Pig City | Registered: Dec 2004  |  IP: Logged
Hephaestion
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posted 26 July 2005 11:58 PM      Profile for Hephaestion   Author's Homepage        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Now, Suzette... I didn't mean that *only* Aussies are 'phobes. Far from it (unfortunately). However, I have to admit (and this is prolly influenced by personal experience) there are a lot who are. At least 80% of the Aussies I have met over the years (and I worked in Banff and met a LOT) were what you folks call "yobos", I believe. (sp?) Nothing against *all* Aussies, but (on average) the Kiwis I met were much less abrasive and far more progressive.


(Now look at that... I've gone and provoked a furor!)


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Suzette
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posted 27 July 2005 12:12 AM      Profile for Suzette     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
edited to make the point more directly:
quote:
Nothing against *all* Aussies, but (on average) the Kiwis I met were much less abrasive and far more progressive.
What's your point? And what was the point of posting the article? To illustrate the above comparison?

It's the "Who would ever guess?" that marks this as being an exercise in stereotyping rather than consciousness-raising, as far as I can see.

[ 27 July 2005: Message edited by: Suzette ]


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CMOT Dibbler
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posted 27 July 2005 12:49 AM      Profile for CMOT Dibbler     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Suzette: Neither of the major parties in the recent Australian elections supported same sex marriage. Dosen't that say something about the Australian people in general?
Besides Heph isn't just generalizing from his own expeirence, he's got hard data to back up his assertion.
The survey didn't say that all Australians were phobes either, it just said many of them are.

[ 27 July 2005: Message edited by: CMOT Dibbler ]


From: Just outside Fernie, British Columbia | Registered: May 2003  |  IP: Logged
Suzette
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posted 27 July 2005 02:01 AM      Profile for Suzette     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by CMOT Dibbler:
Suzette: Neither of the major parties in the recent Australian elections supported same sex marriage. Dosen't that say something about the Australian people in general?
Besides Heph isn't just generalizing from his own expeirence, he's got hard data to back up his assertion.
The survey didn't say that all Australians were phobes either, it just said many of them are.


No, the survey didn't say that all Australians are homophobic -- the title of this thread is, however, "Australians homophobic? Who would ever guess?", which I assert to be culturally stereotyping. Perhaps some stereotypes are OK, and my reaction is merely a knee-jerk one. In which case I guess I'd be quite alright in saying "Gays bitchy and shallow? Who would ever guess?" or "Canadians bland? Who would ever guess?" I've experienced both bland Canadians and bitchy gays, so....would it be OK?

I am not disputing the findings of the study -- not that I am able to, given that the actual findings are not linked from the article, and are only alluded to in the vaguest way -- what I am irritated by is the tone of the thread title that suggests that Australia is an especially homophobic country and that that's to be expected.

I ran a backpackers' hostel for many years, and during that time had a good many Canadians pass through the doors. If I were to base my understanding of Canadian society on those encounters I would tell you that your country's population is loud, witless, will shag anything with a pulse and can't hold its liquor. I hardly think that a small group is an adequate basis for a considered opinion for anyone with the remotest awareness of the world.

The upshot of all this (because I'm sure none of us here particularly want to waste any more energy on it) is that I've been lazily stereotyped -- unfairly, I feel -- and was offended by it. I was surprised to see it from you, Heph, given that you're so quick to spot it relating to gay issues. If you choose to hear that or not is really of little consequence, I suppose.


From: Pig City | Registered: Dec 2004  |  IP: Logged
Suzette
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posted 27 July 2005 07:15 PM      Profile for Suzette     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Hephaestion:

Suzette:

Your complaint is totally valid, and I've edited the post to reflect that. My apologies.


Thanks, Heph. (Where's the kissing smiley?)

From: Pig City | Registered: Dec 2004  |  IP: Logged
Vansterdam Kid
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posted 27 July 2005 08:06 PM      Profile for Vansterdam Kid   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I'm suprised about Tasmania. Reason why is because I thought there were a lot of Green supporters around there, and I would've thought it was more socially progressive. Kind of like much of the Pacific North West in the states, and BC in Canada.
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Mandos
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posted 27 July 2005 08:15 PM      Profile for Mandos   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
A Tasmanian acquaintance of mine tells me that "Tazzie" is equivalentish to "Newfie."
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Papal Bull
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posted 27 July 2005 08:49 PM      Profile for Papal Bull   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
On another board I moderate this fascinating article was posted.

Catholics are least anti-gay in Australia

I was honestly suprised...


From: Vatican's best darned ranch | Registered: Oct 2004  |  IP: Logged
'lance
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posted 27 July 2005 09:00 PM      Profile for 'lance     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Nothing against *all* Aussies, but (on average) the Kiwis I met were much less abrasive and far more progressive.

I've visited Australia and New Zealand only briefly; and for some reason I dislike discussions of "national character" (and then proceed to wade into them anyway).

But my nickel-sociology theory is that in Australia, racism or homophobia or what have you tends to be a little more explicit, more in-your-face -- depending of course on where you are, who you're among etc. -- while in NZ it's a little more tacit, more polite, easier to ignore or overlook unless you happen to be the target of it. (Or unless you happen to be among pakeha -- white, European-descended -- New Zealanders who reckon they can let their guard down around you. How do I know this...?)

You could say the same holds true when you compare USia and Canada. (And, since I have no problem with Americans as such, only with their empire, I mean no criticism of Australia or Australians when I say this. In truth I found a refreshing plain-spokenness and lack of euphemism in Australia).

Which is preferable? You pays your money and you takes your choice, I suppose.

[ 27 July 2005: Message edited by: 'lance ]


From: that enchanted place on the top of the Forest | Registered: Jul 2001  |  IP: Logged
Reality. Bites.
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posted 27 July 2005 09:02 PM      Profile for Reality. Bites.        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Papal Bull:
On another board I moderate this fascinating article was posted.

Catholics are least anti-gay in Australia

I was honestly suprised...


Catholics are less anti-gay than Protestants in Canada and the United States as well.

Observant Catholics are another matter entirely of course. Fortunately they're a tiny segment of people who define themselves as Catholic.


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Screaming Lord Byron
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posted 27 July 2005 09:58 PM      Profile for Screaming Lord Byron     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Homophobia in Queensland? Sir Joh must be proud of his glorious legacy.
From: Calgary | Registered: Dec 2003  |  IP: Logged
Betray My Secrets
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posted 28 July 2005 02:38 PM      Profile for Betray My Secrets     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Screaming Lord Byron:
Homophobia in Queensland? Sir Joh must be proud of his glorious legacy.

If ever there was a modern Western leader outside of Germany whose supporters and apologists do not even merit polluting the human race with their existance...

[ 28 July 2005: Message edited by: Betray My Secrets ]


From: Guyana | Registered: Jul 2005  |  IP: Logged
Screaming Lord Byron
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posted 28 July 2005 11:35 PM      Profile for Screaming Lord Byron     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Betray My Secrets:

If ever there was a modern Western leader outside of Germany whose supporters and apologists do not even merit polluting the human race with their existance...

[ 28 July 2005: Message edited by: Betray My Secrets ]


Oddly enough, I've got a 1987 travel guide to Australia in my basement, and this is what it says about Sir Joh and Queensland.
'The achievements of Joh's reign have included selling off National Parks, repressing the rights of minorities like gays and aborigines, and sending armed police into universities to seize condom machines. Frances Edmonds writes "Sir Joh has done for political enlightenment what Colonel Gadaffi has done for international air safety".....
If hitchhiking, expect to stopped by the police and searched for drugs, as the words "hitch-hiker" "hippy" and "drugs" seem to go together in the police handbook.....
An extraordinary law makes it an offence for licensees to serve drinks to 'deviants', part of the National Party's campaign to make life for homosexuals intolerable. You will probably see T-shirts reading "Please Serve Me - I'm Straight".

Of course, I should add that Queensland has since returned to sanity.

[ 28 July 2005: Message edited by: Screaming Lord Byron ]


From: Calgary | Registered: Dec 2003  |  IP: Logged

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