Tasmanian Shop Owner Appalled | Australian Marriage Equality

TEAR it down!

That’s the opinion of Wynyard businessman Scott Allsop on the traditional marriage billboard erected in the town.

The part-owner of Ace Motors said the sign did not reflect what the Wynyard community had to say on the topic of marriage equality.

“It just needs to be torn down immediately,” Mr Allsop said.

“It’s discriminatory, it’s disgusting, it’s no-one’s right to put something up like that.”

Mr Allsop drew on his own marital situation as a comparison.

“If someone told me not to marry my wife because we are of opposite sex, I would be very unhappy,” Mr Allsop said.

“As a business owner in this town, we don’t need this image.”

Mr Allsop wasn’t the only business owner unhappy with the sign.

TopShop owner Darrell Keegan was appalled that a sign advocating traditional marriage had been placed on his business without consulting with him first.

Mr Keegan signed a lease with LJthHooker with a clause stating that any sign that caused damage to the business would be removed.

Mr Keegan said this particular sign was put up by the landlords without consulting him first.

“I’m annoyed it hasn’t been taken down. It is offensive to some people.”

Mr Keegan has asked LJ Hooker to have the sign removed.

“It’s a slow process, though,” Mr Keegan said.

Braddon Greens MHA Paul O’Halloran urged the groups behind the billboard to consider the potential harm it could have on the community.

“I respect that everyone has a personal opinion on marriage equality, but I ask the organisations who sponsored this billboard to think about the harm and damage it will create,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“I am shocked that anyone would think this appropriate.

“As someone who grew up in a Christian household, my experience is that it is an institution of love, acceptance and tolerance – and I do not see how this fits,” Mr O’Halloran said.

Photo: Grant Wells
Author: Aryelle Sargent
Publication: The Advocate
Publication Date: June 4 2013