A billboard opposing Labor’s support for LGBTI people has been knocked back by the Outdoor Media Association for breaching its code of ethics.

Anti-transgender group Binary had submitted the advertisement as part of its election campaign. The billboard superimposes an image of Labor leader Bill Shorten over a stock image of children and American drag queen Tempest DuJour – whose image is available on many stock image sites.

The advertisement includes a quote from Western Australian senator Louise Pratt saying, “Drag queen story time is a wonderful idea.” Pratt made the comment in support of a local small business Rabble Books and Games in Maylands who faced a wave of hate mail when they launched their drag story time event in 2018.

Binary was told by the Outdoor Media Association that advertisements could not “portray people or depict material in a way which discriminates against or vilifies a person or section of the community on account of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, sexual preference, religion, disability, mental illness or political belief.”

Binary Director Kirralie Smith, who pulled out of being a candidate for Cory Bernardi’s Australian Conservative Party just before the election was called, said the banning of the ads was an attack on free speech.

“I don’t think it’s acceptable that we are not allowed to discuss this key issue before an election. That’s not free speech, that’s not fair,” Smith told The Australian.

“There are two critical issues here. First, Labor has made their position very clear — they believe that a Drag Queen should teach your kids that their gender is fluid, that they can choose if they are a boy or girl,” Smith said.

“Second, we are not able to even have the debate about whether or not this is a good idea during a federal election. And this a slap in the face to the parents of Australia.”

On Twitter Smith accused the Labor party of being guilty of vilification because they were the ones quoted in the billboard advertisement.

“The ad was banned for ‘vilification’. But who is doing the vilification? Must be Labor as #Binary just played a straight bat!” Smith posted.

Aside from being put forward as a billboard OUTinPerth understands the content has also been distributed in some areas as a flyer.

Australian Conservatives candidate Lyle Shelton took to Twitter and questioned how the image could be deemed as vilification claiming it was “Draq Queen Story Time’s own image”.

The image however is clearly manufactured and made up of several stock image photos. The image of performer Tempest DuJour is available on many stock image websites.

OIP Staff