The Pride parade filled the street of Northbridge on Saturday night, but this weekend pride will be celebrated south of the city with Pride in Peel.

Mandurah is celebrating pride by turning the lights on the Mandurah bridge rainbow colours and there’s a massive tropical themed party at Sunbakers Restaurant on Saturday night.

To promote the annual event local newspaper Mandurah Coastal Times published a photograph of Stephen Carter from Pride in Peel, alongside drag queen Fay Rocious, and restaurant owner Gayle Iannetta.

One reader wasn’t happy seeing gay people in Mandurah and sent a strongly worded letter through to the newspaper’s editor who duly published it.

The Mandurah resident, who OUTinPerth has chosen not to name, said she “shocked and offended” to see homosexuals on page one of the newspaper.

“I’m sick of having same-sex relationships shoved down my throat in the media on TV and in every movie these days.”

“Believe it or not, same-sex relationships are not the norm, regardless of we are constantly forced to look at.”

The letter writers says she’s sick of everyone being afraid of offending people by not speaking out against same sex couples, before moving on to her dislike of people using the word ‘gay’ to describe their sexuality.

“‘Gay’ is not something these people are proud of it is a word they hide behind. If you’re proud of being a homosexual, say the word. If your proud of being a lesbian, say the word.

The writer bemoans that the word gay has come to mean same sex attracted rather than it’s traditional meaning of happy, saying the word gay has been “degraded”. The author requested the newspaper publish her name because she was sure the LGBTIQ communities would vilify her over her views.

Head down to Pride in Peel’s tropical party this Saturday night, whether you’re a homosexual or a lesbian, or something else.

OIP Staff