Australian Transgender Support Association of Qld president Gina Mather pens response to Israel Folau

A Queensland transgender support group has written a brutal open letter to embattled rugby star Israel Folau after he targeted transgender children in a sermon, telling him they fear his words could lead to an increase risk of suicide within the community.

THE president of a Queensland transgender support group has issued an ominous warning to rugby star Israel Folau after he gave a controversial sermon at the weekend.

During the sermon at a Sydney church, Folau claimed homosexuality and gender fluidity is what the "devil is trying to instil in the world."

News of yesterday’s sermon prompted Australian Transgender Support Association of Queensland president Gina Mather to write an open letter to Folau, calling him out over his “Vitriol and venom” and expressing fears that his “outspoken and outrageous novice statements might heighten the suicide situation within the community” .

“I felt for you when you received public ridicule, loss of job, friends etc upon your social comments as I believed that if everyone was honest regarding the seven sins, then the devil would have to buy up a vast real estate portfolio to accommodate an avalanche of those departing the world,” she wrote.

“One month has passed and I picked up the paper to read that, you, Mr Folau have not only repeated your stance on said sins but intensified and condemned youths who are being their true selves in a sermon at your church on Sunday.”

Israel Folau in Cardiff in 2018. (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK / AFP)

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Ms Mather took exception to the view that gender fluidity is what the devil is trying to instil in the world.

“Now this is where, I am afraid, that you, Mr Folau, and I must part ways in our beliefs and feelings,” she wrote.

“As a committed agnostic (someone who is uncommitted for your information Mr Folau), for a large majority of my life I have always tried to embrace and accept everyone’s religious doctrines but that was until your verbal outburst from your pulpit.

“Where once I felt for you and your lifestyle, you lost me with your last sermon condemning those with a medically recognised condition called Gender Dysphoria. Your statements, coming from someone who was an idol to the young, can and most probably will be detrimental to those seeking answers to not only their sexuality but gender identity,” she wrote.

“As someone who has been president of ATSAQ since 1992 and, as such, identified many suicide victims during that time, your outspoken and outrageous novice statements might heighten the suicide situation within the community.

“I hope, Mr Folau, that the hard work by many that has been achieved to gain a quality of life for those within the LGBTI communities has not been sullied by your vitriol and venom.”

ATSAQ secretary Kristine Johnson (left) and president Gina Mather.

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In his sermon, the 30-year-old spoke about an event he attended where a person in parliament spoke about the gender fluidity legislation that was being debated.

“He spoke about nine points, one of the points … he is talking about the work of the sin, homosexuality, is in disguise to try and take over within this world,” he said.

“You see in today’s youths and everything, they are allowing young kids in primary school to be able to have the permission to change their gender if they want by taking away the permission of their parents. Now they are trying to take control as a government to make those decisions for young kids who are basically 16 years old or younger, they don’t even know what they are doing.”

It comes just weeks after Rugby Australia tore up Folau’s $5 million contract over a social media post in which he referenced the Bible to tell homosexuals that “hell awaits”.

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