NSW One Nation leader breaks silence after homophobic tweet to Gay MP

NSW One Nation Leader Mark Latham has broken his silence after he tweeted a homophobic slur to a gay MP, who had a classy response.

NSW One Nation Leader Mark Latham has said he will ‘never apologise, never explain’ after he targeted a gay MP in a homophobic tweet.

Mr Latham wrote the tweets on Thursday in response to comments from openly gay MP Alex Greenwich blasting him for his involvement in an event where LGBTQIA+ protesters were targeted.

“Mark Latham is a disgusting human being and people who are considering voting for One Nation need to realise they are voting for an extremely hateful and dangerous individual who risks causing a great deal of damage to our state,” Mr Greenwich said last week.

In a now-deleted tweet in response, Latham wrote “Disgusting? How does that compare with -” before making a crude reference to a sexual act.

Despite deleting the tweet, Lathan took to Twitter on Friday night with a cryptic post which said “‘never apologise, never explain’ turns out to be right”, with a link supporting former US President Donald Trump.

Despite saying he does not expect an apology, Mr Greenwich said he hoped that Mr Latham was doing “okay” after the incident, with the One Nation MP not being heard from since putting out the tweets.

Mark Latham has faced multiple accusations of homophobia. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA Newswire

Alex Greenwich called Mr Latham “disgusting” over his stance on LGBTQIA+ issues. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard.

“At a very human level I hope that he’s okay, the comments he made are obviously not comments of a well person,” Mr Greenwich told reporters on Friday.

He revealed just how impacted he was by the tweets and how it had motivated him to double down on achieving reform for the LGBTQIA+ community in NSW.

“I had a bit of a cry late yesterday at the end of the day, after being in this gig for a decade and being re-elected, I didn’t think I would still be subjected to homophobic abuse,” he said.

“But I woke up refreshed and really recommitted to LGBTQI law reform with my colleagues, the majority of whom I know support the community.”

Mr Greenwich highlighted preventing LGBTQIA+ students and teachers from being expelled or fired because of their sexuality, outlawing conversion therapy practices and allowing transgender individuals to change their identity documents without the need for surgery as areas for reform that he would be targeting.

He said that he did not expect the NSW Parliament to take action against Mr Latham over his tweets.

“I would fear that any action would give him any more of a soap box, would allow him to play the victim, where he is someone who victimises people on an ongoing basis,” he said.

Mr Greenwich responded to the uproar on Twitter on Thursday evening, posting a picture of him alongside his husband.

He 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.”

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

Mr Latham’s tweet remained online for around three hours before it was deleted.

The exchange comes after hundreds of Christian protesters targeted LGBTQIA+ activists outside a church where Mr Latham gave a speech at last Tuesday.

The ‘Christian Lives Matter’ group were seen on video throwing bottles and rocks at a small gathering of LGBTQIA+ protesters who were opposing Mr Latham.

Mr Greenwich said that Mr Latham’s views “belong in the past” but wished to move on from them.

“I understand this tweet has been taken down, and I don’t intend to engage with the matter further,” he said in a statement.

“My focus in the next parliament will be working with the majority of members who support the LGBTQ community to progress important reforms, remove discrimination and make it clear these views belong in the past.”

The tweets have also been slammed by One Nation’s leader Pauline Hanson.

“I want you to know that I don’t condone them and neither do my members of parliament or party associates, I think they are disgusting,” Ms Hanson said in a video shared to her own Twitter account.

Several LGBTQIA+ protesters were injured when the groups clashed.

“I’ve actually tried to ring Mark a couple of times, to no avail, and I have clearly sent a text message to him, telling him my views and also I’ve asked him to give the people an apology.”

Mr Greenwich responded to Ms Hanson’s comments, saying that he did not take much stock in them due to her track record on LGBTQIA+ laws.

“Pauline Hanson, Mark Latham, and One Nation, they are a group of people who will target minority groups one by one and don’t care about the harms they cause along the way,” he said.

“Pauline Hanson was probably disgusted and disturbed by the content of Mr Latham’s tweet but the actions she has taken in the Senate have always been anti-LGBT so I don’t give her much credit at all for what I consider to be an empty statement.”

RELATED
One Nation fails to make waves in NSW state election

At one point a person is pushed to the ground and police are also targeted by the protesters.

The One Nation leader’s tweets have been heavily criticised.

“Mark Latham has deleted these disgusting homophobic tweets without apology or explanation (not that any apology would be genuine anyway,” refugee advocate Shane Bazzi wrote online.

“Extraordinary. This is One Nation NSW Leader #MarkLatham referring today to another elected politician who happens to be gay,” lead Channel 10 journalist and presenter Hugh Riminton said.

NCA Newswire have reached out to Mr Greenwich and Mr Latham for comment.

Newly-appointed NSW Premier Chris Minns on Friday night described Latham‘s comments as ’vile and shameful’ and said Latham had revealed himself as a ’bigot’.