Geraldton Anglican Cathedral event draws protest

A controversial church event in Geraldton accused of promoting conversion for gay and transgender people at the weekend drew equal numbers of attendees and protesters, with a peaceful demonstration staged outside.

There was no shouting or chanting, but about 100 LGBTQIA+ people and their allies turned out in the rain for a peaceful protest across the road from Geraldton Anglican Cathedral.

From inside the cathedral, cars honking their horns as they drove down Cathedral Avenue served as a reminder of the presence outside.

Several attempts were made to start a dialogue before the event, with church associates handing out coffee and acting dean Reverend Professor David Seccombe walking over to chat with the people in the park. Jadn Thomas, holding a placard, said: “I am a Christian, but you shouldn’t be ridiculed on love.”

Advocacy group Out Mid West spread the word about the demonstration via Facebook, but organiser Sam Bentink said the group was not there to protest. Her main message was to let people in Geraldton know there was a vibrant LGBTQIA+ community in town.

In the church, Professor Seccombe said he organised the event before controversy was stirred up by a similar church-organised event in Albany.

“Gender and sexuality are important issues for us in determining God’s will,” he said.

“The purpose of tonight is to help us think about some really confronting issues.”

Australian Christian Lobby WA director Peter Abetz spoke against proposed laws banning conversion practices in WA, saying the legislation and LGBTQIA+ activists were taking away Christian rights.

“Since when does Parliament get to decide what therapy is harmful?” he said.

“When these people tell me how much their mental health has improved. How a woman who was in a lesbian relationship was suicidal ... and now happily married and has got children.

“Was that harmful to her?” He stressed people needed to be careful who they prayed for because, under Victorian law, they could be jailed for praying for somebody to change gender or sexual orientation. “We’re going to be apologising soon for locking up paedophiles,” he said.

Under Victorian law, 10 years jail or $10,000 is the maximum penalty for a conviction for conversion therapy.

The Bill clarifies that “facilitating a person’s coping skills, social support or identity exploration and development” is not a crime.

Video calls from ex-gay and ex-trans people followed Mr Abetz’s presentation, including controversial figure James Parker, who campaigned for the “no” vote during the marriage equality debate.