A new social media campaign to support acclaimed opera singer Kanan Breen is spreading across social media.
The singer appeared at the FIBA Grand Final last weekend to sing the Australian National album. In front of a large crowd of 15,000 people Breen sang ‘Advance Australia Fair’, at the end of the performance he received applause before one crowd member shouted out the homophobic slur ‘faggot’.
Breen who is gay and was showing support for the LGBTIQ community by wearing a rainbow tie. The singer is a parent alongside fellow opera singer Jacqui Dark.
Dark took to social media to share the singer’s dismay at the comment.
So, something happened last night after Kanen Breen nailed the anthem. Something … not very nice. I felt compelled to…
Posted by Jacqui Dark on Sunday, August 16, 2015
Since Dark posted her comment Facebook users have begun changing their profile picture to an image of Breen’s rainbow tie to show support for the singer.
Basketball Australia said the basketball fans outburst was not acceptable.
“Basketball Australia takes the issue of homophobia seriously and as a wholly inclusive sport that stands firm as everyone’s game.” the organisation said in a statement.
That fan should have been identified and removed. It is shameful that no one spoke up against his comment at the time. We can expect more of this kind of homophobic behaviour as the current government has chosen to legitimise this behaviour by their own homophobic stance opposing marriage equality.