Peter Madden’s brother: “Sorry about Peter”
John Madden, the brother of outspoken “War on Mardi Gras” Christian Democratic Party candidate Peter Madden (pictured), says he’s outraged by his sibling’s comments against our communities – and he decided yesterday he will stand with us and march in the Mardi Gras Parade tomorrow.
Peter Madden’s YouTube rants called for an end to the popular Mardi Gras Parade, saying it is nothing more than “live porn” and that “100,000’s of drunken youth will come to Sydney streets and be incited to all kinds of lust, filth and moral depravity.”
“I am so sorry that my brother’s recent unfair and ignorant comments about gay and lesbian people and the Mardi Gras parade have hurt and angered so many,” says an embarrassed John Madden.
“We thought we had moved on from this kind of behaviour in Australian society. Regrettably ignorance about homosexuality still exists in parts of our society. Particularly some parts of the Christian Church,” he added.
“I am disappointed and embarrassed by his recent comments which attempt to slur and marginalise members of our larger community. A person’s sexual orientation should not affect how they are treated in our community in any way.”
John Madden’s reaction comes after Anthony Venn-Brown, the co-founder of Freedom 2 b[e] – Australia’s leading organisation for LGBT people from Christian backgrounds – wrote an open letter to Peter, urging him to apologise for his recent comments. See it here.
“I am grateful to Freedom 2 b[e] for the opportunity to march with them on Mardi Gras night and share directly in the celebration of a freedom that this community now enjoys,” says John.
“It wasn’t that long ago that this community had to hide ‘who they are’ to avoid unfair treatment and persecution. I will be marching in the Mardi Gras on Saturday night in support and out of respect for people’s right to choose and be who they are without prejudice and without judgement. This is what this country is all about.”
“I think my brother’s comments are ignorant, unfair and misguided and I think that he should apologise to the many people that he has slighted as Anthony Venn-Brown has graciously requested,” he concluded.
Venn-Brown says he’s thrilled to hear from Peter Madden’s brother and gratefully accepts his request to march with Freedom 2 b[e] at tomorrow’s parade.
“John joining us in the parade is an incredibly powerful statement that is in harmony the majority of Australian society unlike Peter’s statements,” he says.
As for Venn-Brown’s request for an apology from Peter Madden, the gay former Pentecostal preacher knows some think his effort is a waste of time.
“But I am the eternal optimist and have a belief that most people can change,” he reflects. “It has worked with others.
“As I always say, the enemy is not individuals, churches or political parties; the enemy is ignorance. There are some of us even in our community who also once believed as Peter currently does. It’s just that Peter is 30 years behind the times.”
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