By Miles heffernan

In recent weeks GLBTI rights activists have embarked on a campaign of vandalism and personal attacks on the Premier of Queensland in the name of same-sex unions. While the cause is worth fighting, their method may be potentially undermining the exceptional work done to gain widespread community support for marriage equality.

There are direct and immediate lessons for cool heads to work together to avoid the erosion of recently won civil union rights. The LNP has made no immediate noise that they wish to repeal the civil unions. There have been united calls for calm and patience, including from Shelly Argent. By being provocative and endorsing criminal acts, we risk alienating a powerful government by picking a fight.

With civil unions, the Bligh government made them an issue because of its timing so close to the election. Technically a private member’s bill made Civil Unions not a Labor policy, yet it was voted on party lines in nearly every case. So if it walks like a duck… 

This was still a brave strategy from then Premier Bligh and Deputy Premier Fraser, which deserves adulation and respect. It produced a new level of equality and a bit of controversy. Their importance is obvious when you consider that in the first month of civil unions being available, 346 couples were able to have their relationships officially recognised.   

This provides an important context to consider how to manage civil unions and the 'gay panic' defence. These are important social reforms for all Queenslanders. One needs to stay and the other needs to be introduced. For this to happen, the LNP are the only ones in charge, with an overworked opposition.

Since the recent election, QNews has spoken with some of the most respected gay advocates in the country. They include, Paul Martin (Queensland Association for Healthy Communities), Paul Martin (LGBTI Mental Health Specialist), Alex Greenwich (Australian Marriage Equality), Senthorun Raj (Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby NSW) and the queen bee herself Shelly Argent AOM, (PFLAG) who is also Queensland’s 2011 Australian of the Year.

While all of them work for independent organisations, they do so in symbiosis and where possible create a single message. They also have 'call back' relationships with the most senior politicians and government officers in the country. It is no coincidence that these guys aren’t spray-painting mobile billboards or calling “Can Do a Can’t”.

The way QAHC approached the change in government has exemplified how interest groups can respond to potential change in a respectful, professional manner. As they aim to reduce HIV transmission and promote positive mental health for the community, they have a lot to lose but know being feisty will not help.

Andrew Wilke is a friend of the GLBTI community and a champion for problem gamblers. He has been less effective on helping gamblers sadly. He was outfoxed by a PM, who he painted into a very tight corner. Activism needs strategy and pragmatism, no matter how emotive the issue.

The “hate truck” should have been let run free. Every brochure he handed out confirmed he was out of touch with reality. His counter productive campaign simply reinforced to the mainstream that the GLBTI community needs legal equity from hating haters like Madden. To suggest that mainstream Australia would be influenced by his imagery underestimates them.

The pursuit for tolerance and diversity cannot be done with blunt force trauma. Madden has as much right to make outlandish and hurtful statements as we do to seek law reform. While repugnant, the imagery will likely fall short of vilification laws in either NSW or Queensland. Madden was objectionable and hurtful. Guess, what, so are we to some people and we will always be. Just as some maybe objectionable to us.

Capturing the support, hearts and minds of the majority must remain the focus. Thinking we can capture every heart and mind is not reasonable. In fact it is disrespectful and intolerant to those we share this diverse world with us.

Endorsing criminal damage and getting in the gutter by calling the Premier names is ineffective. Sure it hurts but not fixing the laws will prolong the pain. Mr Newman is personally on our side. He is one of the most senior Liberals on record with support for equality. Attacking him or Madden is counter-productive to our message of tolerance and diversity. It makes those involved look hypocritical and gives voices like Madden an amplifier where he would otherwise be a non-event.

Secretary Hillary Clinton in a most eloquent speech advancing GLBT (but not Intersex) rights, identified untruths such as Madden’s link between homosexuality and paedophilia. She wisely notes such untruths are “unlikely to disappear if those who promote them are dismissed out of hand rather than invited to share their fears and concerns. No-one has ever abandoned a belief because he was forced to”.

Can Do is a friend of the gay community who has to manage a very diverse party and this will not be easy. Let this government find its feet and not think about us for a while. From New Farm to Cairns to way out west – there has never been such a diverse single party government. The LNP has plenty of humanists and supporters of GLBTI rights.

The respected people mentioned above know them personally and can engage with them. While not endorsing any group, our collective interests are already well protected by very admirable operators.

Perhaps rather than personal attacks or dropping into Bunnings to pick up a spray can, consider engaging and supporting those that are working on the positives rather than reeking vengeance on those that you don’t tolerate. It will make a difference that will help achieve full equality. You also won’t be in the trenches with those you can’t influence. You may even feel the love from being on the side of good and positively advancing your human rights, speaking as a shared voice in beautifully diverse GLBTI community.

Twitter @Masterhef