Mark Latham doubles down after outcry over his homophobic tweet
A defiant Mark Latham has returned to Twitter to decry “alphabet ideology” after breaking his silence about a homophobic slur he tweeted, and then deleted, about a Sydney gay MP. Read his response.
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A defiant Mark Latham on Saturday doubled down on his decision to tweet a homophobic slur about fellow MP Alex Greenwich — declaring “boo hoo” — before later taking to Twitter to slam “alphabet ideology” and woke” media.
The controversial NSW One Nation MP stood by his original Twitter post, saying that insults can often “come back at you harder and truer”.
Mr Latham made the original Twitter post on Thursday in response to reports about a violent protest outside a church he had spoken at during the NSW election campaign.
It came after a comment by independent MP Alex Greenwich branding Mr Latham a “disgusting human being” who posed a risk to NSW.
Mr Latham’s explicit tweet — which remained online for about three hours before it was deleted — prompted One Nation boss Pauline Hanson to demand he apologise.
Labor’s Upper House leader Penny Sharpe also condemned the tweet, saying she was “physically sickened” by it, and Equity Australia labelled them as “disgusting comments unbecoming of a member of parliament” which should be retracted.
Mark Latham remained silent on Friday, except for a tweet about former US president Donald Trump which said “never apologise, never explain” and was quickly deleted.
A core problem with Alphabet Ideology is the way it demands Compliance, not just Tolerance.
— Real Mark Latham (@RealMarkLatham) April 1, 2023
Why?
Because it’s in the hands of the Left: political, media and corporate elites.
The enduring Left mission is control of the lives of others.
It used to be economic, now cultural.
On Saturday, in a statement to The Saturday Telegraph, he said: “Sometimes in public life when you throw out insults they come back at you harder and truer … So boo-hoo Alex Greenwich.”
“When he calls someone a disgusting human being for attending a meeting in a church hall, maybe attention will turn to some of his habits.”
How many other homicidal maniacs get a leave pass, like this trans shooter in Nashville?
— Real Mark Latham (@RealMarkLatham) April 1, 2023
Alphabet Ideology is a direct threat to the fairness of the rule of law, a pillar of Western civilisation.
As for why he deleted the post, Mr Latham said: “Greenwich goes into schools talking to kids about being gay.
“I didn’t want to be accused of anything similar, leaving that kind of content on my socials.”
On Saturday morning, in response to the latest comments, Mr Greenwich said it was clear Mr Latham was unfit for office.
“@Mr Latham is clearly unfit for office and I hope he gets the help he needs,” he said
“I’m sure the public and a majority of my parliamentary colleagues share this opinion, especially following his vile homophobic and sexualised attacks at me, his transphobic views and the violence directed at the LGBTQ community at the Belfield rally. “
LATHAM’s FRIDAY TWEET
Mark Latham has made his first tweet since posting a homophobic tweet about a gay MP, with another quickly deleted social post suggesting he will “never apologise, never explain”.
The controversial NSW One Nation leader fired back on Thursday when independent MP Alex Greenwich said he was “disgusting human being”.
Mr Latham replied on Twitter with a homophobic tweet, which The Telegraph is choosing not to share due to its offensive nature.
‘Never apologise, never explain' turns out to be right @UnHerdhttps://t.co/r5hjG8gneQ
— Real Mark Latham (@RealMarkLatham) March 31, 2023
The outspoken politician was widely panned for his remark and his One Nation boss Pauline Hanson demanded he apologise and new Premier Chris Minns labelling him a bigot.
But Mr Latham looks unlikely to do so.
He appeared to break his silence on the matter on Friday evening, linking to an article from 2019 about Donald Trump on how leaders should “never apologise, never explain”.
Mr Greenwich hit back at Mr Latham with a classy response on Thursday evening.
For those wondering how I’m doing after Latham’s homophobic attacks today, I’m fine and I’m more motivated than ever to deliver long overdue LGBTIQA+ reforms… and I have the most handsome husband. pic.twitter.com/MRA8pI6xE5
— Alex Greenwich MP (@AlexGreenwich) March 30, 2023
He posted a picture of himself alongside his husband on Twitter and wrote: “For those wondering how I’m doing after Latham’s homophobic attacks today, I’m fine and I’m more motivated than ever to deliver long overdue LGBTIQA+ reforms … and I have the most handsome husband.”
Mr Latham’s tweet remained online for around three hours before it was deleted.
PREMIER LABELS LATHAM A ‘BIGOT’
Newly-installed Premier Chris Minns has blasted NSW One Nation Leader Mark Latham as a “bigot” over a homophobic tweet targeted at NSW MP Alex Greenwich.
Mr Minns confirmed he had spoke to Mr Greenwich on Friday morning and described him as “someone of character”.
When asked about Mr Latham’s comments, Mr Minns was blunt in his response.
“I think that they’re vile and shameful comments, and I think he’s revealed himself to be a bigot,” said Mr Minns speaking at Friday’s Lifeline International President’s Lunch.
“He’s an independent who is extraordinarily effective, and manages to elevate the conversation and make major changes in the state.
“One of the things that can’t be forgotten is that comments like his, even though in and of themselves they’re terrible, they unleash ghouls on people and on a person like Alex.”
Mr Minns also acknowledged that members of the LGBTQ+ community are two-and-half-times more likely to seek urgent medical help as a result of a mental health condition, which also motivated to speak out against Mr Latham’s comments.
“They need support from the leadership of NSW and it should be an unambiguous and universal condemnation of these comments,” he said.
‘I FEEL HURT’: ALEX GREENWICH RESPONDS
A Sydney MP who was the target of a homophobic tweet by Mark Latham has said he doesn’t expect parliament to take action against the One Nation leader, while condemning his comments as being from an unwell man.
MP Alex Greenwich and gay-rights campaigner said he hoped Latham was “doing okay” when speaking to the media earlier on Friday.
“I hope he has support around him, I hope that his friends and family are checking in on him,” Mr Greenwich said.
“I felt a great deal of hurt from them.
“I know that these are not the comments of a well person, of a reasonable person.”
The Daily Telegraph has chosen not to disclose the contents of the tweet due to its offensive nature.
The One Nation leader has gone to ground and not been heard from since deleting the tweet on Thursday.
Mr Greenwich, who had a “bit of cry” after the incident, said while he didn’t expect parliament to take action against Latham he did want the LGBQTI community to feel protected.
“I’m not asking for anything else than our parliament saying we don’t support discrimination against the LGBQT community. We don’t support harassment and what we are going to do is pass laws to protect them,” he said.
“Being LGBQT shouldn’t make you a political target.”
Mr Greenwich said he had been encouraged by the words of his colleagues in their bid to support him, but didn’t appreciate Pauline Hanson calling for an apology.
“I’m less encouraged by the words of Pauline Hanson, we know just last week she sought to pass a motion attacking the trans community,” Mr Greenwich said.
“Pauline Hanson, Mark Latham, One Nation they are a group of people who target minorities one by one and don’t care about the harm they cause.”
HANSON CALLS FOR LATHAM TO APOLOGISE
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has slammed her party’s NSW leader Mark Latham over “disgusting” comments on social media.
Ms Hanson called on Mr Latham to apologise for a homophobic tweet directed at Sydney MP and gay-rights campaigner Alex Greenwich sent on Thursday morning, and which has since been deleted.
The Daily Telegraph has chosen not to disclose the contents of the tweet due to its offensive nature.
In a video statement, Ms Hanson said that neither she or her party condoned the comments.
“I think they are disgusting. I’ve actually tried ring Mark a couple of times, to no avail,” she said.
Ms Hanson called on Mr Latham to apologise.
Labor’s Upper House leader Penny Sharpe also condemned the tweet, calling on Mr Latham to apologise immediately.
“I was physically sickened by that tweet,” Ms Sharpe said.
“Homophobia is always unacceptable and there is never an excuse. Mr Latham should apologise to Alex Greenwich immediately.”
Mr Latham was also criticised by Equality Australia for his comments.
“They were disgusting comments unbecoming of a member of parliament, he should apologise and retract those comments,” Equality Australia legal director Ghassan Kassisieh said.
“The best way for parliament to respond is to now get on with the job of removing discrimination against LGBTI people in our laws.”
Mr Latham was responding to Mr Greenwich calling him a “disgusting human being,” after violence erupted outside a church in Belfield last week where Mr Latham was speaking.
The tweet was one of a series of posts from Mr Latham about the incident.
My response to comments made by Mark Latham on Twitter today. pic.twitter.com/phuoTYUtHQ
— Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@PaulineHansonOz) March 30, 2023
In one tweet, Mr Latham took aim at “Alphabet freaks and weirdos seeking to blockade a suburban church, break crucifixes and burn them were looking for trouble”.
The violence — in which a police officer was taken to hospital after being attacked — was sparked as protesters disrupted a forum hosted by state MP Mark Latham on parental rights and religious freedom.
A spokesman for the parish said the violence appeared to start after the group protesting Mr Latham’s views on transgender rights allegedly broke a crucifix.
Asked about Mr Latham’s tweet, Mr Greenwich said: “I understand this tweet has been taken down, and I don’t intend to engage with the matter further”.
“My focus in the parliament will be working with the majority of members who support the LGBTQ community to progress important reforms.”
Mr Latham did not respond to a request for comment.
It comes after The Australian reported that Mr Latham is due to face court next month after the MP was detected using his phone while driving.
In another tweet on Thursday, Mr Latham said President Barack Obama was “the ultimate whore” for charging up to $900 for tickets to a speaking tour.
Mr Latham was re-elected to the NSW Senate for another eight years on Saturday, with his number two candidate Tania Mihailuk also set to join one nation in the upper house.
However the party failed to make any major gains compared with its vote at the previous election.
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