Charlotte Varcoe
A LENGTHY debate around gender titles in State Parliament has left one LGBTIQA+ community leader “perplexed”.
It came following an ongoing debate around gender titles in the South Australian Parliament, with a motion introduced by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Legislative Council member Sarah Game.
The motion was moved to “accept there are biologically two sexes and, in turn, a reflection of two genders”.
The motion also read to “acknowledge that two genders have been accepted common knowledge for most of history” and “recognises that the idea of binary genders not being accepted language is denigrating to both male and females and harmful to traditions”.
There was also an acknowledgement of the “importance of gendered language in society, specifically for explicit language and communication”.
Member of the Legislative Council and Mount Gambier/Berrin resident Ben Hood spoke in support of the motion and said his opinion on the topic was “firmly based on scientific facts”.
“As someone who has invariably been called pale, male and sometimes stale, there are those who will take offense that I even hold an opinion on this topic,” Mr Hood said to the chamber.
“I take each person at face value and appreciate them for their individuality.
“Small-l liberalism…ensures that the individual is protected against the tyranny of the many, protecting minorities who the collective view of the masses might otherwise drown out.”
Mr Hood said the individual’s right to choose did not “extend to the protection of those whose ideas are not rooted in fact or reality”.
“There are, allegedly, so many new genders being concocted that it is hard to keep up with them and their respective pronouns,” he said.
“I remain open-minded and respectful, but so flimsy is the radical gender theory from the collective left that their glass jaw is on display with their treatment of genuine feminists.”
Mr Hood acknowledged there were those born with ambiguous genitalia, and said he believed people’s views should be respected while acknowledging the “biological reality” which underpins the objective foundation that human beings are typically born into one of two genders.
“To do otherwise is to invalidate both men and women alike, and is fundamentally anti-science and anti-human,” he said.
“Those who are leveraging the attack on these women, and on women’s sport and women’s public spaces in general, are wholly embedded in identity politics and intersectionality and their primary focus on the struggles of transgender people in enlightened First World democracies is at the expense of women.”
He also said he believed those in Parliament should be discussing more critical issues at hand.
Limestone Coast Connect acting chair and openly gay women Di Ind has hit back at Mr Hood’s comments, stating she was “perplexed” by his speech.
“I have known Ben for quite some time and I helped him with his electoral campaign for him to win the seat of Mount Gambier,” Ms Ind said.
“He has written support letters for our community organisation to help us receive some funding so we could consolidate the organisation.”
She said Mr Hood had also previously attended events held by the community organisation which openly supported the LGBTIQA+ community.
“I am unsure whether these are actually Ben’s words and what concerns me is, when I was watching his speech, he seemed quite uncomfortable reading it from his notes,” Ms Ind said.
“I am questioning whether or not it is because Ben is the new kid on the block that he has been directed to give this speech and acknowledge the topic and be the spokesperson on the far, extreme right point of view.”
She said she believed the Liberal party needed to “significantly separate themselves” from the Labor Party, but questioned to what extent.
“I do agree with large components of Ben’s speech, that we should be concentrating on this which is far more important to people who are struggling day to day,” Ms Ind said.
“There are bigger issues that need to be discussed and that is what we need our politicians to be spending time on.”
Ms Ind said as a country, state and community she felt people needed to value each other’s differences.
“We have had gender neutral names forever, so I am not sure what all the fuss is about,” she said.
“It is a natural progression and we have so many other critical issues that need addressing which is what our politicians and elected members need to be concentrating on to make life a lot easier for every single one of us.
“I hope one day people can sit back and realise we are all equal, we are all human and we should respect our differences.”
Mr Hood said he made it very clear in his speech that he “respect and value” every individual’s right to express themselves as they wish, which also extended to the LGBTIQA+ community.
“I have always held the view based on science and observable fact that there are two biological sexes and two human genders and that intersex people, who should be acknowledged, valued and respected, do not invalidate this view,” he said.
“My anti-human and anti-science comments are directed at radical trans-activists who seek to suppress and limit biological women’s rights.”
Those in need of support are encouraged to contact Limestone Coast Connect or QLife on 1800 184 527 from 3pm until midnight daily.
