BOB Katter is a bully and should not expect to go to heaven.
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So says Melbourne radio presenter David McCarthy who blames the federal member for Kennedy's anti-gay marriage attitude presenter for Joy 94.9 radio station, which joined forces yesterday with talk show host Neil Mitchell in a special live outdoor joint broadcast to discuss same-sex attracted youth suicide in Australia.
Mr McCarthy says mainstream homophobia, like the anti-gay-marriage advert broadcast by Katter's Australian Party contributes to the problem of gay teen suicide.
"If Mr Katter is happy with the role that he plays in youth depression and suicide, I don't expect to see him in Heaven."
"He needs to understand that what he is doing is bullying. He is an angry man and needs to concentrate on the things that he can do for his electorate and Queensland that are positive and stop being a schoolyard bully," Mr McCarthy said.
"The things that he says, the homophobia that he spews out, this sort of attitude leads to depression and for many people, the result is suicide.
Mr McCarthy said he is available next week to talk to Mr Katter in a face-to-face meeting.
"I will be in Canberra on Monday and Tuesday next week. I will step up to the plate because I am not scared of bullies," he said.
Mount Isa Gay-Marriage Advocate, James Newburrie says his hope is that if we, as a society, stop marginalising kids by telling them that they're disgusting, unnatural, and unworthy, they might stop killing themselves"
"Since the early 1990s, La Trobe University has been asking gay kids why they attempt suicide, commit serious self-harm, take drugs, avoid school and run away from home. Every year the answer is the same: because of their family and their community's attitude towards gays. If a gay male teenager experiences homophobic violence from his brother, there is a 70 per cent chance he will kill himself within a year. The data is there - your homophobia is killing your kids," Mr Newburrie said.
Mr Katter yesterday said he rejected the accusation that he is homophobic.
As a Federal politician he said he is being asked to consider legislation to change the definition of marriage and he is unequivocal and unapologetic that the current laws should not be changed.
He said he hopes there are no gay young people who take their lives for those reasons.
"I am a passionate advocate for suicide prevention amongst the various interest groups within his electorate and the country."