Marriage protest met by ‘volunteer’ security

Close to 100 people turned out on Tuesday evening to protest against the Australian Family Association’s (AFA) anti-gay marriage rally at the church of former tennis superstar Margaret Court.

Event organiser Sam Cavallaro of Equal Love Perth told blaze that their protest was met by volunteer security and barricades at the Victory Life Centre in Osborne Park.

“They had blaring Christian rock music and shoved and verbally harassed protesters with homophobic abuse,” he said.

“One protester was also threatened, being asked if he was catching the train home after the rally.”

Cavallaro said he was encouraged by the amount and diversity of people who showed their opposition to the stance of Margaret Court and the AFA.
 
“I think the best part of the rally was seeing so many people, young and old, with so much will to stand up against Court and her band of bigots,” he said.

“We even elected to go back a second time for another round. It shows how important standing up against homophobia is for the queer community.”

A spokesperson for AFA Western Australia told blaze the principal speaker for the rally was Bill Muehlenberg, author of the book Strained Relations: the Challenge of Homosexuality, who was due to discuss the topic of same-sex marriage.

Photo c. Out in Perth