Lord Mayor's homophobia condemned

By Leon Harrison and Anne Pavy PERTH — For the second time in three years, the mayor of Perth, Dr Peter Nattrass, has been accused of homophobia. In 1992 Nattrass and five other Perth councillors were found by the Equal Opportunity Tribunal to have discriminated against members of an AIDS support group after the council refused permission for the establishment of an AIDS drop-in centre. On October 10, in a conversation with Vincent Council's chief executive, John Giorgi, at a Greek businessmen's dinner, Nattrass referred to two Vincent councillors as "poofters". Nattrass later told the West Australian: "I have a number of friends and acquaintances who are homosexual and for whom I have high regard, and I applaud the achievements of many homosexuals in the arts and the professions. "That said, I wish to reiterate ... that I disapprove of homosexuals who flaunt their homosexual behaviour in a way which can have an unhealthy and damaging influence on young West Australians." The gay councillors on Vincent Council, Brian Greig and John Hyde, have demanded an apology from the mayor, claiming the comments were directed at them. Councillor Greig has renewed calls for legislative changes to the Equal Opportunity Act to make discrimination on the grounds of sexual preference illegal. But Liberal premier Richard Court said on October 24 there would be no changes to the act. The Community Images Network, in conjunction with the Art Rage Festival, held a "right of reply" public speak-out on October 29. Greig, Hyde and Gay and Lesbian Pride organiser Sandra Maynard addressed the gathering. They stressed that sexual preference, like race and sex, does not affect a person's ability to hold public office. Greig said that Nattrass' comment about homosexuals "flaunting" their sexuality would itself be very damaging to young gays and lesbians. Mayor of Vincent Jack Marx and Melbourne-based comedian Greg Fleet also spoke in support of the councillors. Anthony Benbow, Democratic Socialist candidate for Fremantle, said that elected officials should be held responsible for their actions and comments and that the community should have the right to recall politicians such as Nattrass.