Dr Kerryn Phelps has slammed Channel Nine’s ‘Married at First Sight’ and Seven’s ‘Seven Year Switch’ as an insult to same-sex couples who cannot marry under Australian law.
The first LGBT person and first woman to be president of the Australian Medical Association took to Facebook to voice her concerns about the programs.
“What a bloody insult to those of us in committed long term same sex marriages who are not recognised under Australian law,” Phelps wrote.
“What a disgusting affront to our children who are told be elected senators and right wing buffoons that our families are not “worthy” of legal equality.”
Phelps made a point of the fact that conservative MPs who are known for railing against same-sex marriage rights do not seem to share the same concern for these depictions of traditional marriage.
“Not a peep from Bernardi, Abetz, Christensen et al,” Phelps continued.
“Seems all you need to qualify for marriage in their books is an anatomically different set of genitals.”
Queensland MP George Christensen has responded to Phelps’ Facebook post, expressing his dissatisfaction with the programs.
.@drkerrynphelps seeks my view on reality TV show “Marriage at First Sight.” My view: it rots both ur brain & the institution of marriage.
— George Christensen (@GChristensenMP) April 7, 2016
OIP Staff
This story was updated at 3:41pm to add George Christensen’s response.
Sources
Is Dr KP suggesting every TV show accomodate 2% of the population. That is ridiculous. Please grow up. Stop the tantrums. All couples have had the same rights since 2009 for goodness sake.
I think she is just pointing out inconsistencies in the opposition’s argument and what is considered acceptable on TV. …and gay couples don’t have the same rights. For instance, if two gay Australians work overseas and live together and are a couple they don’t get defacto or any legal recognition. They’d come back to OZ as virtual strangers or, God forbid, if something happened to one of them they’d get no spousal rights. Whereas all a straight couple would need to do is get married and be protected. Gays also need to wait 2 years after living together in Australia to transfer property rights, where married couples get that from day one.