Same-sex marriage: rainbow flag burned in woman’s front yard
A SENIOR cop says the burning of a ‘Vote Yes’ flag in a woman’s front yard proves the country is incapable of a reasonable debate.
POLICE say it’s clear Australia can’t have a civil debate after a marriage equality flag was set alight in a Brunswick woman’s front yard.
The incident occurred at Collier St on September 24 around midnight when the offender set alight the synthetic flag, which read “vote yes”.
It caused the plastic pole to melt and some of the top fence to be damaged.
Senior Sergeant Michael Moloney said the victim noticed the damage the next morning and called police.
“It’s a reflection on Australian society,” Sen-Sgt Moloney said.
“We think we can have a reasonable debate, but we clearly can’t.”
It comes after Moreland Council voted to fly a rainbow flag at Coburg Town Hall until marriage equality is passed in Australia.
North West Ward Councillor Dale Martin put the motion forward and said a person’s gender or sexuality should not affect their ability to marry another or leave them subject to bullying, harassment or abuse.
“It’s clear that the easiest, least costly and least harmful way of ensuring equality in marriage is through a vote in parliament and we should do everything we can to support our community in making that happen,” Cr Martin said.
Mayor Helen Davidson said Moreland was proudly diverse.
“We implore all politicians to work together to end this discrimination and unjust prejudice,” she said.
Sen-Sgt Moloney encouraged people to contact Moreland’s gay and lesbian liaison officer First Constable Travis Kinghorn if they needed support or had fallen victim as a result of the marriage equality debate.
Originally published as Same-sex marriage: rainbow flag burned in woman’s front yard