Beer’s Bible Society backing brews backlash as gays get on outrage

Coopers Beer boss Tim Cooper is so sorry about that Bible Society video where they drank his beer and debated gay marriage. Video statement released on social media yesterday:

On behalf of the Coopers board and senior staff, we are incredibly saddened by the impact our involvement with the Bible Society has had on our ­valued Coopers drinkers …

His sister Melanie Cooper is weeping with regret. Coopers’ statement continues:

Offence has been taken by our recent involvement, for which we are deeply sorry.

Questioning gay marriage? Evil. The Australian website, yesterday:

Pubs in Sydney have thrown out Coopers Beer and LGBTI advocates have condemned the company after Liberal MPs Andrew Hastie and Tim Wilson featured in the (Bible Society) video discussing the gay marriage debate while drinking Coopers.

Young Victorian of the Year Jason Ball cheers Coopers’ backtrack on Facebook, Tuesday:

I never could have imagined how many Australians would be willing to give up drinking their favourite beer in the name of equality. Thank you so much to every individual and venue who stood up and made themselves heard. As a member of the LGBTI community, your support has been truly heartwarming.

Parliament would have to hold a debate to legislate gay marriage but OK … Making Laws, Parliament House website:

… speeches may be made for and against such proposals (debate) and the proposals are voted on …

This video must be despicable. The Bible Society, March 10:

Matt Andrews (host): Andrew (Hastie), you’re a Bible-reading Christian, aren’t you required to hate Tim (Wilson)?

Andrew Hastie: Absolutely not, I’m commanded to love my neighbour, as a colleague to Tim, I sit next to him in parliament, and as a friend.

Andrews: Right, nothing very dramatic there.

Umm … not that bad. The host must have said something really homophobic to gay MP Tim Wilson? Bible Society, continued:

Tim, you’re a respected thought ­leader …

Wilson thinks this is all ridiculous. The Australian website, yesterday:

I don’t think it’s inconsistent to support an organisation like the Bible Society and be a supporter of marriage for same-sex couples

But queer activists are angry. Chloe Sargeant on the publicly funded SBS Sexuality website, Monday:

By engaging in this partnership … Coopers has alienated a really major demographic — not just the LGBTQIA community, but anyone who believes in marriage equality

One bar is actually donating its takings to GetUp! because of this video. The Newtown Hotel in Sydney, Facebook, Monday:

… we’re donating $1 from every pint sold in the month of March to GetUp!, who campaign on behalf of the LGBTIAQ+ community …

The Bible Society clearly should have used wine instead of beer. Sky News’s Kristina Keneally on Twitter, yesterday:

Still waiting for the outrage over @AMEquality (Australian Marriage Equality) event I attended in a pub two weeks ago, and the pub sponsored, and the panel drank wine.