Before we begin, credit where credit’s due: say what you will about Fred Nile, but willingly walking on to a TV special, on a public broadcaster known for its grilling by audience members and panelists alike, and being subjected to an hour’s worth of debate on the exact topic that grinds your opposition’s gears?
Takes guts, to be fair. And to be honest, *literally* nobody would have been surprised if the Christian Democratic Party’s Fred Nile arrived like this at the ABC studios.
But he stayed. And healthy debate ensued.
The Q&A special, hosted by an affable, calm and extremely collected replacement to Tony Jones, Tom Ballard, touched a lot of bases in terms of LGBTQI issues faced by Australians and the Australian government today. Dennis Altman, Paul Capsis, Julia McCrossin, Julia Doulman and Katherine Hudson joined Ballard and Nile to make up the diverse panel.
The audience—nice touch, QANDA—were all equal.
In the #QandA audience tonight: 100% people – just like you
— ABC Q&A (@QandA) June 18, 2015
Steering the conversation in the early stages of the night was a question posed by Tom Ballard to Fred Nile. “Is your position in fact that homosexuality is morally wrong?” Ballard asked. “Ah, homosexual acts,” Nile responds.
Credit to Katherine Hudson, who here at least attempts to even, but simply cannot.
Fred Nile went on to discredit the media’s vilification of his views, mentioning a headline that read, “Nile Hates Gays”. “Find anything I’ve ever said where I expressed hatred for anybody – for homosexuals, or anyone else. That’s how you get misrepresented.”
.@FredNile defends his views of homosexuality as morally wrong. Dennis Altman thinks the majority are worng #QandA http://t.co/dRVv5TkcWJ
— ABC Q&A (@QandA) June 18, 2015
The topic then moved on to same-sex relationships – not necessarily intimate ones. “I’m not saying you can’t have that loving, sharing relationship. It’s a democracy. Two men, or two women, can have a relationship or a friendship. I’ve never opposed that, and the church doesn’t.” CC: previous comment about “homosexual acts” being the villain, here.
.@FredNile says has never opposed same sex relationships #QandA http://t.co/XMoGlE021z
— ABC Q&A (@QandA) June 18, 2015
A breather from Fred Nile for a moment, as a legend of a school kid brings up the topic of coming out in high school to the table.
Why aren’t schools safe places for young people to come out? @kathhud responds #QandA http://t.co/HjDxZ0L829
— ABC Q&A (@QandA) June 18, 2015
Fred Nile sees that delightful response, and comes in with this.
.@FredNile thinks you can confuse teenagers during their sexual development. @kathhud disagrees #QandA http://t.co/9XhWxaIFG8
— ABC Q&A (@QandA) June 18, 2015
Look. Maybe Fred Nile has a point. I mean, can you even imagine an Australia where gay marriage was universally accepted, and legalised?
Every week should be Q&Gay, tbh. More highlights from the special can be found over here.
Meanwhile, TB raises a fine point.
Anyone else notice @frednile flirting with me OUTRAGEOUSLY?! #qanda
— Tom Ballard (@TomCBallard) June 18, 2015
