今日吃瓜

A CONSERVATIVE Christian group based in Sydney has denied sending mail to Tasmanian households equating homosexuality with bestiality 鈥� despite the organisation鈥檚 name being visible on the posted material.

Hobart resident AJ Bell was shocked when he received a hand written envelope, with his full name on, containing a leaflet entitled 鈥�10 reasons why homosexual marriage is harmful and should be opposed.鈥�

The leaflet, produced by little-known religious group the Australian Society for the Defence of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP), says: 鈥渋f homosexual 鈥榤arriage鈥� is accepted鈥� what arguments are there to refuse subsequent steps such as incest, pedophilia, bestiality and other unnatural behaviour?鈥�

After receiving the leaflet earlier this month, which Bell refers to as 鈥渉ate mail鈥�, he asked his neighbours if they had received similar deliveries. None had.

鈥淚 was literally sick,鈥� said Bell, who performs as drag queen Raine.

鈥淚 was frightened because I didn鈥檛 know if I was being targeted.鈥�

The envelope was postmarked Strathfield, a suburb 14 kilometres west of Sydney CBD. TFP鈥檚 offices are in an industrial area of nearby Auburn.

Despite the proximity, TFP 鈥� also known as Australia Needs Fatima 鈥撀� denied sending the leaflet.

Operations manager William Morgan told the Star Observer the leaflet was several years old and not distributed widely.

鈥淚t was to give to family and friends but we definitely did not encourage them to do leaflet drops or send them to homosexual people,” he said.

While claiming the leaflet is old, the wording is almost identical to text that can be found on a current web page of TFP鈥檚 US sister organisation.

TFP say they are concerned with 鈥渢he moral crisis shaking Christian civilization鈥� and aim to promote 鈥渢he family, good traditions and the right to private property.鈥�

Founded in 1960, TFP was originally concerned with the spread of communism. Today, campaigns against abortion and homosexual equality predominate.

Last month, American TFP campaigned against a drag show at Seattle University saying it was a 鈥渟ymbol of moral depravity.鈥�

One outreach method TFP employs is to take a statue of the religious figure Fatima to people鈥檚 homes and pray in its presence.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson Rodney Croome said: 鈥淭his personalised mail campaign borders on harassment and I urge recipients to report any anti-gay letters.鈥�

Bell is planning to take the matter to the anti-discrimination commissioner.

鈥淭hey chose the wrong person to send this to,” he said.

Despite repeated requests, TFP failed to confirm to the Star Observer if they were investigating the mailings.