Political leaders and WACHS condemn councillor for claim that LGBTQIA+ includes paedophilia

Political leaders, activists and the WA Country Health Service have condemned comments made by an Albany city councillor who incorrectly claimed that the plus in LGBTQIA+ includes paedophiles. In his opening remarks at Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Thomas Brough made the incorrect claim that the plus in the LGBTQIA+ community includes paedophiles. Mayor Greg Stocks said in a statement to the Advertiser that the remarks did not represent the views of the Council and that they were Cr Brough’s “personal opinions alone”. Albany Pride committee member Tiger Bird said Cr Brough’s comments were “damaging” and called on the City of Albany to condemn them. “If you want to be a progressive, model city, one that’s not stuck in the dark ages, then you’ve got to come out and condemn it,” they said. “Trust in politicians is already at an all-time low – how can we have trust in them if all they’re doing is repeating misinformation from the internet?” Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens said she was “appalled” by the comments, which she said did not reflect the views of the “welcoming and inclusive” community. “Having an elected member of the City of Albany making statements that only promote fear and division in our community is unacceptable,” she said. “There is no place for remarks like this in our community; they are incorrect and hurtful.” A spokesperson for WA Country Health Service, which employs Cr Brough as a specialist emergency doctor, said the organisation “rejects all forms of vilification”. “Dr Brough’s comments are unacceptable and not representative of our commitment to inclusive and respectful healthcare,” they said. “As an organisation, we expect all health practitioners to comply with their profession’s Code of Conduct which condemns discrimination.” Australia’s first openly gay politician and WA spokesperson for Just-Equal Australia Brian Greig also condemned Cr Brough’s comments. “The claim that homosexuals are paedophiles is a very old trope designed to create fear and loathing of LGBTI people,” he said. “When public figures rehash these false claims, it can lead to violence against our community.” WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam said she wasn’t aware of the comments, but said they sounded “bizarre” and were “not appropriate” when asked in a televised interview on Wednesday. The Australian Army veteran and specialist emergency doctor is a member of the Liberal Party and has previously been linked to Liberal preselection.