Anthony Mundine’s homophobic slurs early this year is still affecting people
THE organiser of a major indigenous award event has downplayed a rapidly igniting controversy over Anthony Mundine’s homophobic pronouncements.
Confidential
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THE organiser of a major indigenous award event has downplayed a rapidly igniting controversy over Anthony Mundine’s homophobic pronouncements.
Youth advocate Jake Gablonski, an RU OK! Day ambassador, contacted Confidential to confirm he won’t be attending the National Indigenous Human Rights Awards because of Mundine’s slurs while a contestant on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!
Of the three awards to be handed out on October 17 at the NSW Parliament House, one is named after the boxer — The Anthony Mundine Award for Courage.
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“I was a guest last year but I couldn’t in any conscience be involved again after Anthony Mundine’s comments about homosexuality,” Gablonski said.
In February, Mundine said he supported the death penalty for gays, saying he believed it was the only way for society to deter homosexuality. The 43-year-old also said homosexuality, banned in his Islamic faith, was also forbidden in Aboriginal culture.
Black Rainbow suicide prevention not-for-profit founder Dameyon Bonson handed back his 2016 Dr Yunupingu Award for Human Rights following Mundine’s comments.
Awards founder and organiser, NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane condemned Mundine’s statements, for which he later apologised.
“Like many, when I became aware of Anthony’s comments I was shocked,” the MP said.
“His comments were totally unacceptable and were condemned. Anthony has, however, sincerely apologised for his ‘dumb’ comments.”
Moselmane said the award would not be renamed.
“Anthony is a controversial individual, known for his controversial behaviour and comments. You either love him or hate him,” he said.
The third category on the night is the Eddie Mabo Award for Social Justice, and there has been some push for an award to be named after a female, which Moselmane said would be announced this year.
State Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Sarah Mitchell did not comment specifically on the Mundine controversy but said the awards should be inclusive of everyone.
When contacted yesterday, Bonson said he obviously would not be attending the awards.
“It is disappointing that they’re using indigenous human rights as a vehicle to continue to promote a serial homophobe,” he said. “Anthony Mundine is a repeat offender.”
Originally published as Anthony Mundine’s homophobic slurs early this year is still affecting people
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