A Senate candidate for the Family First party in Tasmania says he did not intend to link the massacre of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando to the "dangers" of the gay marriage debate in Australia.
Peter Madden has since apologised for a tweet saying that that while the nightclub shooting was abhorrent, "it doesn't change the real and present dangers of the gay marriage agenda" to Australian children.
"I absolutely condemn the massacre in the gay club, this is absolutely wrong and I'm praying for victims," he said on Tuesday.
"I don't want to offend people, this is a sensitive time."
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Mr Madden said he did not link gay marriage to Orlando, but was responding to a critic who was doing so.
He's apologised on ABC local radio and says he'll attend a vigil in Hobart this week to remember the victims of the massacre.
He said since Monday he has been been the subject of hate on social media, later tweeting he is neither homophobic, nor a hater.
Gay marriage is on the Australian election agenda, with Labor promising to scrap the Coalition's promised plebiscite giving Australians a vote on the issue.
Mr Madden is campaigning against gay marriage, with a billboard (pictured above) stating it equals gay sexual education for children. His website promotes a "family values" platform and says "gay marriage epitomises the worldwide social Marxist agenda to undermine Conservative values".
He tweeted on Tuesday that the "vitriol and hatred poured out" towards him proves that the "yes" side (in the plebiscite) "can say what they like unchallenged. The "no" side will be vilified."
SBS News has approached the Family First Party for comment.
- with AAP
