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The Australian Health Minister has sacked one of the Australian Government’s new men’s health ambassadors for publishing homophobic comments.

Two of the newly-appointed ambassadors are listed as authors of a publication which claims that homosexuality is a mental disorder, and that gay men are more likely to molest children than straight men.

Warwick Marsh, of the Fatherhood Foundation, and Barry Williams from the Lone Fathers Association were two of the 29 authors who contributed to the paper “21 Reasons Why Gender Matters”, published by the Fatherhood Foundation in 2007.

The publication refers to homosexuality as ‘gender disorientation pathology’. It also says homosexuality will lead to increased levels of drug abuse and partner violence, and is often a ’symptom of family dysfunction, personality disorder, father absence, health malfunction or sexual abuse’, according to ABC News.

The publication also says gay people are more likely than straight people to abuse children, saying that homosexuality ‘encourages the sexual and psychological exploitation of children.’

One of the authors, Barry Williams, has distanced himself from the publication. The other author, Warwick Marsh, has refused to repudiate the paper and has since been fired by the Australian Health Minister Nicola Roxon.

Roxon said at a press conference, “I think these comments particularly about homosexuality are quite abhorrent.”

“I don’t share those views, but it is very clear that he [Marsh] has not repudiated these comments, they are very offensive and it’s not appropriate for him to continue in this role.”

“These are not my views and are not the government’s views. I am very proud of the record that the government has and … I hope that the gay community will see this for the mistake it was.”

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Posted in: Campaigns & Politics |