In a letter to the Bendigo Advertiser, Alastair McKenzie described his own experiences as growing up gay in rural Victoria as “horrific”.
Mr McKenzie – a Nationals Party member – said he had expected a “more courageous and compassionate” stance from his sister, who has stated she will oppose a bill to leglaise same-sex marriage.
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“As you can understand this is deeply personal and the latest statement from my sister has been extremely hurtful,” he said.
“Growing up in the country can be tough and isolating, growing up gay in the country in the 1990s was horrific. Public statements promoting inequity only serve to perpetuate the isolation and marginalise those youths questioning their sexuality.”
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Mr McKenzie, who has recently returned to the country, said that politicians are wrong to assume that rural voters were opposed to marriage equality.
“Many Melbournians assume country people are rednecks and hold very conservative views but that has not been my experience,” he said.
“Most are intelligent and compassionate – many are connected to this issue personally, some being gay themselves, many indirectly through family members, work colleagues and friends.”
Senator McKenzie has voted against previous bills to legalise same-sex marriage, as well as helped vote down a 2013 motion to congratulate the UK Prime Minister David Cameron on his government’s marriage equality legislation.
Comment has been sought from the Senator.
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