The tables have been turned on the Australian Christian Lobby’s campaign to boycott the sponsors of Channel 7’s Sunrise program after it was revealed that coffee chain Gloria Jeans had made large donation to the anti gay marriage lobby group.

Sparks flew last Thursday morning as Dr Keryn Phelps and Australian Christian Lobby spokesperson, Jim Wallace weighed in on the same-sex marriage debate on Sunrise.

The on screen showdown closely followed the launch of the ‘I do’ marriage equality campaign by Marie Claire. The campaign, supported by several high profile celebrities including Rachael Taylor, Alex Perry, Magda Szubanski, Brian McFadden, Vogue Williams, Cheyenne Tozzi, Charlotte Dawson, Jayson Brunsdon, Alex Perry, and Akira, aims to raise awareness and public support of marriage equality prior to two upcoming bills being presented in the senate.  Hundreds of supporters flocked to Sydney’s Martin Place and Melbourne’s Bourke Street mall last week to sign petitions and demonstrate.

ACL had already hit the news, mounting a campaign against Channel 7 for their alleged one sided support of the campaign. The ACL urged its supporters to boycott businesses advertising on the Sunrise program.

During the subsequent appearance on Sunrise, Wallace said, ‘I think this debate would do great credit to Joseph Goebbels,’ (Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. As one of Adolf Hitler’s closest associates and most devout followers, he was known for his zealous oratory and anti-Semitism.)

Wallace also accused Channel 7 and Sunrise of getting into the debate with the view of supporting and partnering the gay movement, and that therefore, it was one-sided.

David Koch neither denied nor acknowledged this, but quickly asked Wallace, ‘ Just what is wrong with same sex marriage’. Wallace replied that the issue was about children, citing, ‘There are consequences if mothers and fathers are not involved.’

Dr Phelps replied, ‘Men and women are getting married every day of the week with no intention or biological possibility of having children. You’re telling me that people in their 70s are getting married with the intention of having children…you are not speaking logical sense.’

The interaction sparked a lively discussion both onscreen and off, and led to much commentary on the YouTube post of the debate.

Soon after the debate, Veteran gay journalist, Doug Pollard, confirmed that popular coffee chain, Gloria Jeans, was a major sponsor of the ACL. He published Gloria Jeans philanthropic bent on his blog currentaffairs.net.au . Mandatory disclosure of any significant donation is legally required by political organisations in Australia.

There are now around 500 Gloria Jeans coffee outlets in Australia, including one – ironically – on Oxford Street in Sydney.

As understanding of its financial support of the ACL grew, some voiced their views on the coffee chain’s Facebook page. On Sunday night Facebook statuses and Twitter updates began to spread calling for a boycott of Gloria Jeans stores across Australia.

On Monday afternoon Gloria Jeans released a statement on their Facebook page distancing themselves from the Australian Christian Lobby’s marriage campaign, noting that their donation was solely campaigns leading up to the Prime Minister debate during the 2010 election campaign. The statement has done little though to abate the growing criticism of the coffee chain on social media.

OUTinPerth contacted Gloria Jeans for additional comment but did not receive a response before going to print.

Kathryn Tanger, Graeme Watson