Backlash over gay kids’ night

Alex de Vos
Church leaders and family groups have slammed a ratepayer-funded gay youth night in Geelong.
City of Greater Geelong is set to host the event for “same-sex-attracted and queer-friendly youth” at a cafe next month.
Australian Family Association’s Max Crockett labelled the event “inappropriate”.
“I’m very strongly in favour of marriage and family and these events don’t promote these things,” Mr Crockett said.
“I have nothing against gay people but this is inappropriate.
“The fact that it is aimed at youths…is even worse.”
St Mary’s parish priest Father Kevin Dillon said the event was akin to using ratepayers’ money to pay for reverse-discrimination.
“There are all sorts of different groups of people in our community – people who vote Liberal, people who vote Labor, people who barrack for Collingwood, people who barrack for Geelong. From a community perspective, this event would be singling out people with a sexual preference – what about the other community groups representing different interests?
“There also might be other areas in the community that might have a higher priority that would benefit from this sort of funding.”
But Jason Baldwin, whose Cafe Go will host the event, said it was invaluable to young gay people in the region.
“It’s the one place where the kids can socialise and feel like they belong,” he said.
“I think it’s brilliant that people are taking the initiative to do this, otherwise the homosexual kids feel repressed.
“The straight kids have got their blue light discos and school discos – this is one place the gay kids can feel safe.”
A City Hall spokesperson said the White Winter Party was the City’s fourth “gay-friendly” event.
A variety of youth organisations including the City’s Geelong Adolescent Sexuality Project had provided funding, the spokesperson said.
“It’s not just for same-sex people but it’s a safe place for same-sex youths,” the spokesperson said.
City advertising material said the event was strictly “no drinking, no drugs and no smoking”.