Australia: Bisexual singer Missy Higgins defends journalist who compared gays to paedophiles
Bisexual singer Missy Higgins has defended a journalist who has come under fire after comparing gay people to paedophiles on a news show.
Mamamia writer Mia Freedman appeared on Channel Ten’s The Project on Thursday to talk about the idea of a national paedophile register.
She said: “We accept that gay people can’t change who they love and they’re sexually attracted to, so why do we think that people who are sexually attracted to children can be rehabilitated?
“Name and shame them. I want know where they are.”
Missy Higgins – who regularly addresses sexuality through her music – came to the journalist’s defence after she apologised for her “lousy analogy”.
The singer said: “Go easy on Mia Freedman. It was poorly worded and she’s apologised.
“Save your energy for the REAL homophobes out there. Mia isn’t one of them.”
go easy on @MiaFreedman, it was poorly worded & she’s apologised. Save ur energy for the REAL homophobes out there. Mia isn’t one of them.
— Missy Higgins (@missyhiggins) October 17, 2014
A statement from Ms Freedman said: “I unreservedly apologise to anyone I have upset, confused or outraged and to anyone who thought I would ever ever ever stand with bigotry or homophobia.
“When a subject about which I feel passionately – the rights of convicted paedophiles to ‘privacy’ vs the safety of children – I made the wrong call and tried to make a point that was way too complex for a 5 second grab.
“I recognise now that the long history of people damagingly linking homosexuality and paedophilia, means the two topics can never be inoffensively connected.”
