PRESS RELEASE: Australia’s perverted politics falsely labels trans community as predators
Ms Katherine Deves, Liberal candidate for the federal Sydney seat of Warringah, has sparked an open season on Australia’s trans community. An unedifying pile-on ensued, involving politicians, apparatchiks, media and everyday Australians. Ms Deves is Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handpicked candidate for the blue ribbon seat once held by former PM Tony Abbott.
Ms Deves tweeted “Transvestism is very common amongst sexual predators, even serial killers”. “Half of all males with trans identities are sex offenders” compared with less than 20 percent for cisgender males – people whose gender identity and expression matches their biological sex assigned at birth.
She considers those who allow gender fluidity are no different to people who watched the trains with Jews headed to Nazi concentration camps. Trans teenagers are “surgically mutilated”, she’s triggered by the rainbow Pride flag, and views “transabled” – people pretending to be disabled – “is a thing”. Ms Deves also stated “surrogacy is a human rights violation”.
PM Morrison proudly continues to endorse his preferred candidate.
This is Australia 2022. The winds of hate fanned against marginalised Australians to achieve electoral glory. Winning at all costs. Doing whatever it takes.
As a Clinical Psychologist who provides trauma informed care arising from sexual assault, I can assure Ms Deves that her views are clinically uninformed and dangerous. Most sexual predators are heterosexual men and many are known to their victims/survivors.
Is it any wonder Australia’s trans community are up to 15 times more likely to experience suicidal ideations, suicide, self-harm or mental health? Unsurprisingly, because their safety, security and connection are often violated.
Australian politicians are renown for publicly shelling its most vulnerable citizens for self-interest and electoral incumbency. A sad reflection on the vacuity, barbarity and inhumanity in Australian politics. Putinesque in its falsehood, righteousness and deceit.
Former PM John Howard during a 60 Minutes television interview in 1996, said he’d be disappointed if he had a son who was gay. In a 2001 Triple J interview Mr Howard doubled down on his view, because “I haven’t met a parent yet who wants their children to grow up gay”.
During a recent televised leaders debate, PM Morrison in response to a mother’s question about NDIS funding for her 4-year-old son who has autism, said he and wife Jenny were “blessed” to have “two children who don’t, haven’t had to go through that [autism]”.
Taken together, Australia is on a slippery slope when its politicians spuriously repudiate the identity, reputation and legitimacy of its vulnerable citizens.
Leaders who divide, denigrate and neglect citizens on the basis of diversity, shouldn’t be surprised when vulnerable countries such as the Solomon Islands look toward China to help provide much needed development support.
It’s noted Hong Kong is hosting the Gay Games 2023, which is a worldwide sport and cultural event that promotes sexual diversity, featuring lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) athletes and artists.
Dr Michael Walton, Clinical Psychologist, Newcastle, New South Wales
