Malcolm Roberts defends Hanson by calling burqa an ‘affront to homosexuals’
ONE Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts has called the burqa an 鈥渁ffront to homosexuals鈥� in a strange and confusing defence of Pauline Hanson鈥檚 decision to wear one during Question Time.
In a Lateline interview, Roberts said he was 鈥減roud鈥� of Hanson for the stunt, according to .
鈥淚鈥檓 very, very proud of her courage and strength and commitment to this country,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing, we have people who say it鈥檚 offensive for her to wear a burqa and yet they don鈥檛 say it鈥檚 offensive for women to be forced to wear the burqa.鈥�
Host Emma Alberici asked Roberts how many people he knew who had been forced to wear a burqa.
鈥淲e鈥檝e read about it,鈥� he said.
Alberici suggested that Hanson鈥檚 actions were ridiculing the Muslim community.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 offensive to put women down,鈥� said Roberts.
鈥淎nd in Australia with our set of values people are seeing [the burqa] as an affront to women, homosexuals, an affront to Australian values.鈥�
Alberici asked how the burqa was an affront to homosexuals.
The Islamic people throw homosexuals off the roofs of buildings,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t has come to be a deeply concerning symbol of Islam and its terrorist extremes.
鈥淎nd let me point out, there was quite a feeling of concern and Cory Bernardi actually admitted he was startled when he could see this black robe right next to him [in parliament].
鈥淗e was very startled and he鈥檚 a big strong man.
鈥淭hat garb has come to be very threatening to Australians.鈥�
Following Hanson鈥檚 stunt in parliament, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd took to Twitter to call it 鈥渟tupid self-indulgent shit鈥�.
How to create a race problem in Oz which prides itself on racial harmony?You do stupid self-indulgent shit like this
— Office of Kevin Rudd, 26th PM of Australia (@MrKRudd)
The burka isn’t an affront to gay people, just (it turns out) Cory Bernardi is shitting his pants. Homophobes (be they homophobes who blame their homophobia on ancient religious writings, or just homophobes who hate gay people or any other reason) are an affront to gay people.