‘The Australian‘ has reported that telecommunications company Telstra has scaled back support from Australian Marriage Equality’s campaign.
Last year the company was featured in a series of newspaper advertisements that showed businesses that supported the call for marriage equality. Now the company has pulled back it’s support following pressure from the Catholic Church.
‘The Australian’ has revealed that Michael Digges, the Business Manager for the Archdiocese of Sydney wrote to the company last year threatening to pull the church’s business over their public support for marriage equality.
Mr Digges allegedly stated that the Catholic population in Sydney may pull their business from Telstra.
Telstra has conformed that they will not be part of any future campaigns stating that the government has now provided a pathway for the issue to be discussed via a plebiscite.
“The government has committed to putting same-sex marriage before the Australian people in a plebiscite and, ultimately, it will be parliament who determines any changes to the institution of marriage,” a spokesman for Telstra told ‘The Australian’ yesterday.
“In view of this, Telstra has no further plans to figure prominently in the wider public debate.” the spokesperson said.
On their Twitter account this morning the company said they remained committed to supporting diversity and that their principles on marriage equality had not changed.
We place great importance on diversity and stand against discrimination in all forms. Our position on #marriageequality hasn’t changed.
— Telstra News (@Telstra_news) April 12, 2016
The Aus people and Parliament will determine any changes to institution of marriage. We have no plans to drive further public debate.
— Telstra News (@Telstra_news) April 12, 2016
Rodney Croome from Australian Marriage Equality told ‘The Australian’ that the company had not requested that their logos be removed from the AME website.
The telco’s decision to pull back their public support for marriage equality has been welcomed by the Australian Christian Lobby’s Lyle Shelton.
The ACL leader took to Twitter declaring the companies change of heart was “A good development”. Mr Shelton said employees should be free to show their support for man-woman marriage without fear in the workplace.
Advertising industry website Mumbrella has reported that the company has faced a backlash of negative comments on social media over their decision to cave into the Catholic church.
The PR disaster comes after the company battled to reassure customers that their service was reliable after a series of data outages. Today, customers are highlighting that their support for marriage equality is as reliable as their service.
Again, again, again, again, the #Telstra crap this morning is why we *shouldn’t praise corporates* for appearing to support issues we value.
— Benjamin Riley (@bencriley) April 12, 2016
So it’s fine for @Telstra‘s coverage to be out, but not anyone wanting to get married? #Telstra
— adam rozenbachs (@arozenbachs) April 13, 2016
Not. Happy. Jan! @Telstra #Telstra pic.twitter.com/rwDlU4vOMc
— James Alker (@James_Alker) April 13, 2016
What do we call when a corporation stops pinkwashing to appease Christians? Beigewashing? #Telstra
— Nic Holas (@nicheholas) April 12, 2016
After today’s news, Telstra’s new packs on offer in their 24×7 app now make sense… #Telstra #MarrageEquality pic.twitter.com/3Y7t3vhGIo
— Mick (@Mi7k) April 13, 2016
The Catholic Church need to pull their heads in especially as they are being investigated & mind their own business. Telstra are weak ! ! !