Anti-gay leader Tony Abbott is a Savage Garden fan, but the band’s gay singer is not having it
The de facto leader of Australia’s anti-gay marriage campaign Tony Abbott has revealed he likes a band with a gay lead singer… but the feeling is not mutual.
The former Australian Prime Minister has become the most prominent voice of the anti-gay lobby as Australia votes on equal marriage, alienating much of his own family in the process.
After Abbott suggested it would be “best” for his gay sister’s children to be raised by a straight couple, his own daughter Frances spoke out for equality, appearing in a TV ad on the opposing side of the debate to her dad.
The ex-leader has taken his opposition to LGBT rights to surreal extremes, lashing out at “transgender marriage” and demanding censorship of a Macklemore performance over gay anthem ‘Same Love’.
But in a radio interview this week, Abbott revealed he is a fan of Savage Garden.
Darren Hayes (Photo by Gaye Gerard/Getty Images)
Speaking on 2GB – the radio station which obediently censored Macklemore’s Same Love performance per Abbot’s demands – the leader spoke about the issue.
Addressing the presenter he said: “Like me you probably don’t listen to any music from after 1975, except The Travelling Wilburys and Savage Garden, they were pretty good.”
The feeling is very much not mutual, though.
Savage Garden singer Darren Hayes, who is married to a man, made his feelings clear on Twitter.
He tweeted: “I’m no fan of Tony Abbott.”
The singer added: “Rich & I were married 12 years ago in the UK but Australia is still dragging its feet on equality.
“The tide changes but not without dragging up a lot of mud first.
“Hang in there Aussies. Love wins in the end.”
That’s a pretty clear response, Tony. Better stick to heterosexual music in future.
You can probably just listen to this on loop, Tony.
Mr Abbott, who led the country until he wad deposed in an internal party coup in 2015, has led calls for Australians to vote against equality.
The politician stunned the country last month when he appeared to suggest it would be “best” for his gay sister Christine Forster’s children to be raised by a straight couple.
Mr Abbott recently stirred controversy when he visited US-based extremist lobbying group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) – despite the group allegedly pressuring countries around the world to keep sodomy laws banning gay sex.
