Premium Content:

Grace Tame and Magda Szubanski speak out against Katherine Deves

Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame, and actor Magda Szubanski have spoken out against Liberal candidate Katherine Deves.

- Advertisement -

Deves, who has campaigned for the Sex Discrimination Act to be amended to allow for discrimination against transgender women, is the Liberal candidate for the NSW seat of Warringah.

She was hand-picked as the candidate by Prime Minister Scott Morrison who earlier this week was singing her praises and voicing support for her views. As videos of Deves appearing on discussion panels and deleted social media posts have been highlighted, the PM has distanced himself from candidate.

Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame said Deves had trivialised a serious subject.

“Katherine Deves has equated positive relationships education for LGBT youth to ‘grooming’. Not only is this deeply insulting to the LGBT community, it trivialises very real experiences of one of the most evil forms of calculated psychological violence.” Tame posted to Twitter.

Magda Szubanski said the commentary from Deves was “downright cruel”.

“The comments from Deves are ignorant as well as distinctly lacking in compassion and common sense. In fact, let’s just say it…they’re downright cruel,” she said.

In 48 hours Deves has issued multiple apologies as different statements from her past have been highlighted in the media.

On Wednesday she apologised for the language she had used when discussing a young transgender man whose family shared a photo of him after top surgery, while also apologising for saying the Pride flag “triggered” her.

On Thursday she issued an apology for comments she’d made describing youth initiative Wear It Purple as “grooming”, and for comparing activism against transgender people to standing up to the Holocaust, and for suggesting that 50% of transgender women, and 20% of all men, were sex offenders.

“In my dedication to fighting for the rights of women and girls, my language has on occasion been unacceptable. It has hurt people and detracted from my arguments,” the statement said.

“I apologise for such language and the hurt that I have caused. I commit to continuing the fight for the safety of girls and women in a respectful way.” Deves said.

OIP Staff


You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
or contributing to our GoFundMe campaign.


Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight)
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGEDinfo@discharged.org.au / discharged.org.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au

Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au

 

 

Latest

Narelda Jacobs takes on new role as patron of Rainbow Futures WA

The Channel 10 newsreader has shared her excitement about her new role.

Cast announced for new Gregg Araki film ‘I Want Your Sex’ 

Araki was behind the cult classics 'The Doom Generation', 'Totally Fucked Up' and 'Nowhere'.

Vengaboys are back in town 

The Vengabus will be back in town.

Conservatives in the UK are outraged about a Pride poppy pin for Remembrance Day

The Royal British Legion have defended offering a pin for Remembrance Day that includes the Pride Progress flag. 

Newsletter

Don't miss

Narelda Jacobs takes on new role as patron of Rainbow Futures WA

The Channel 10 newsreader has shared her excitement about her new role.

Cast announced for new Gregg Araki film ‘I Want Your Sex’ 

Araki was behind the cult classics 'The Doom Generation', 'Totally Fucked Up' and 'Nowhere'.

Vengaboys are back in town 

The Vengabus will be back in town.

Conservatives in the UK are outraged about a Pride poppy pin for Remembrance Day

The Royal British Legion have defended offering a pin for Remembrance Day that includes the Pride Progress flag. 

Pedro Almodóvar’s critically acclaimed ‘The Room Next Door’ in cinemas Boxing Day

His first English language film stars Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore.
Old Lira. Delicious roman sourdough pizza since 2013.

Narelda Jacobs takes on new role as patron of Rainbow Futures WA

The Channel 10 newsreader has shared her excitement about her new role.

Cast announced for new Gregg Araki film ‘I Want Your Sex’ 

Araki was behind the cult classics 'The Doom Generation', 'Totally Fucked Up' and 'Nowhere'.

Vengaboys are back in town 

The Vengabus will be back in town.