BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia — Fiona Simpson, a member of the Queensland Parliament, who is actively seeking a ministerial position in a Liberal National Party government that would entail responsibilities for community services and women’s services agencies, is being criticized for a 2002 speech where she said that “people can grow out of the homosexual lifestyle thanks to efforts by “compassionate” support groups” such as Exodus Ministries International.
Fiona Simpson
Community Services Minister Karen Struthers branded Simpson’s previous comments as “way out of touch and patronizing,” and said the promotion of Exodus was disturbing.
“She seeks to be the minister of an agency who will have responsibility for funding organizations, and it’s very clear her views are very supportive of groups like Exodus,” Struthers said.
Simpson’s 2002 speech was revisited as the renewed debate in state politics this week over same-sex relationships and marriage equality was raised with Queensland’s Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser championing a bill to allow same-sex civil unions to be registered in Queensland.
Simpson has dismissed previous and current criticism of her views as “another distraction” and insisted she had been “verballed.”
She has not respond to questions about whether she still thought homosexuality was something people could outgrow.
Struthers also lashed out at Simpson and her party for opposing the Deputy Premier’s civil partnerships legislation, which would allow same-sex as well as straight couples to register their relationships in the state.
According to The Brisbane Times, during debate on anti-discrimination law changes in November 2002, Simpson said gays and lesbians should be shown “compassion and understanding” and then she discussed the work of Exodus:
“I wanted to make members aware that, based on my information from some of the former homosexuals I know, there is a compassionate ministry called Exodus.
“I have a number of acquaintances who have worked with Exodus. Today I was talking with a particular gentleman who is a former homosexual. They have a compassionate understanding and a desire to get alongside people who choose and who want to leave the homosexual lifestyle. This is about offering them options and not imposing only one set of values on other people.
“Their mission is to support people who want to not live a homosexual lifestyle, but they also give them the freedom to grow into heterosexuality over time.”
Struthers said Simpson appeared to be implying that homosexual people had a problem and should get counseling to grow out of it.
Paul Martin, executive director of Queensland Association for Healthy Communities, whose organization promotes healthy living within the Queensland LGBTQ communities, said attempts to “cure” homosexuality generally led to further harm and family problems down the track.
According to its website, Exodus International is a Christian evangelical ministry that aims to help men and women “find a way out of the sexual brokenness of homosexuality” but warns the journey may take years.
Earlier this month, John Smid, the former Executive Director of Exodus International’s oldest ministry “Love in Action,” publicly admitted that he is gay, and now says that being LGBTQ is an intrinsic part of a person’s being, not a “behavior” that one can repent from.
Filed under: Oceania
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Everything is bigger in Texas – even the homophobia
if you are dumb,do same pls :)
These are the kinds of things that make me want to punch people in the face.
If your a bigot, GROW OUT OF IT.
Since she’s ignorant can she grow out of it?
Lol… People are reaching for anything.
what.the.fuck?!
Words fail me ………. LIMITED!!
poor thing, she’s sooooo S.O.L.!
well. nyeh nyeh nyeh back off bitch!
dislike button, please!
What about gay people who’re in their forties? Fifties? I’ll even reach for seventies. If you can grow out of it, wouldn’t they have already? B/
Sound advice, to be sure.
T_T
Ridiculous, I’m proud to be Canadian, We have been equal in the eyes of the government since 2003.
lol so apparently not only can you wash the gay off you but you can grow out of it?!!! I love idiots. lol
Rage! Never!!! You can’t grow out of that!
Sure….. Right away.
How insulting! Maybe she can grow out of her ignorat way of thinking.
dislike peopel cant grow out of it its how they were born noone can change who u r
Wow..what an idiot..
Grow out of being a cunt you bitch, cause you’re being a super one at that.
uh huuuuuuh.
whatta twit! When did she decide to be straight or caucasion?
Seriously?!? How about, “If you’re ignorant and a judgemental bigot, GROW OUT OF IT!!!”??
hey Simpson, I’ll grow outta being gay when you grow outta being straight. OK?
your grow out of being a heterosexual.
Fiona Simpson should “grow out” of being an old, bitter, judgmental cunt who is filled with Hate.
Maybe she should grow out of the kitty between her thighs!!!
grow up!
Hmmmm, I’ve been out since I was 18 and now I’m 43. Still haven’t “grown out of it” and don’t plan on it
Fiona, get educated! Grow a brain!
Too bad she can’t grow out of being a douchebag. WHOOPS!
Ignorance at its finnest
#DUMBFUCKINGBITCH…WThayle? She needs to grow out of her fuckin’ ugly ass hairdo….
If you’re a cunt, grow out of it
so, she’s a hasbian then?
and YOU can grow out of being a bigotted hateful moron
“If your an asshole” grow out of it.
If you’re straight, grow out of it
If you cnt stand you may have homosexual feelings,grow out of it
I’ll grow when she grows.
I’m already 9″ cut, I dont think I can grow it much more you dirty dirty whore!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHa
just wait til she wakes up one day and realizes she didn’t grow out of it…just suppressed it!
Wtf ??? What a dumb bitch !!!
If your stupid just grow out of it. Lol
If you are ignorant grow out of it.
HAHAHAHAHA yeah right…
What a DUMBASS.
No, honey, grow Into it
another repressed Lesbian…she’ll come out of the closet when she is no longer a politician, wrire a book, and try to make $ on it!
i dont believe in slappin the shit out of a girl but then again there is a first time for everything. Sleep with a girl ya silly bitch. I bet she gets u off better then what ever vege ur using.
A person can’t grow out of being gay. Anymore than you can grow out of being ignorant.
where do these people come from. how ignorant n stupid is she.
If what she says is true, shouldn’t she someday “grown into it?” Just asking!
I know there’s still hope for me, I’m only 61.
nope..its soundin like she’s scared to face SELF=SHE GAY lol
Realized i wasn’t straight at 12, accepted my pansexuality at 16, at 18, just two and a half months ago, i embraced my transsexualism. Progressing with age. Does it count as “growing out of it”?
poor fing! obviously stuck in “the way-back machine”
i apologize, ignorant parliament member, but my growing days are ovr. i shall stay 62in of fun and gay.
I’m sorry, but were Born This Way.
I’ve grown out of being straight :D Sorry lady. I <3 my gay life <3
I grew INTO it! :-) BTW, why are there so many STUPID people in government?? It’s to the point where it’s getting dangerous.