Mum puts up rainbow flag, homophobes respond ‘I hope your kids get AIDS’

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

An Australian mother who put up a rainbow flag to show her support for equal marriage received homophobic hate mail targeting her young children.

Australia is currently holding a public vote on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to get married.

Mother-of-two Bec Spiteri, of Melbourne, had decided to show her support for equal marriage by flying a rainbow flag from her home.

But after putting up the flag, an anonymous person left a horrific homophobic letter at Ms Spiteriā€™s home.

Mum puts up rainbow flag, homophobes respond ‘I hope your kids get AIDS’

The letter, printed in red capital letters, appears to threaten Ms Spiteriā€™s children.

It says: ā€œYOU FERAL SCUM PUSHING DISEASE ON OUR CHILDREN OF THE FUTURE ALBION SCUM

ā€œILL [sic] GIVE U A YES SAME SEX SCUM I KNOW YOUR HOUSE I HOPE YOUR KIDS GET AIDS AND BASHEDā€.

Speaking to the Mail, Ms Spiteri said: ā€œThis is absolutely a legitimate attack on me, a straight ally, who happens to be flying some rainbow flags.

ā€œI have no issue with people having an opposing opinion to mine. As long as they express that view respectfully.

ā€œThis is not respectful. This is a threat. And I will not tolerate my children being threatened.ā€


Mum puts up rainbow flag, homophobes respond ‘I hope your kids get AIDS’

The mother has called the police and handed over CCTV footage of a figure leaving the man leaving the homophobic letter in her mailbox, and kicking over her bin.

She said: ā€œWhoever it was is irrational and uninformed. Iā€™d say heā€™s done his worst, but I wasnā€™t going to leave it to chance, which is why I contacted the police.

ā€œIt makes me angry because theyā€™ll think theyā€™ve won. Itā€™s so important for allies to stand up for those who are most affected by this vote.ā€

There have been a spate of homophobic hate incidents across Australia during the vote.

Last month a cafe was threatened with arson for supporting the Yes campaign while a 14 year old girl received a death threat for supporting marriage equality on social media.

Two Australian radio stations last week abruptly cut a live feed of a Macklemore performance at a sports event when he began to sing gay anthem Same Love.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, a hardline opponent of LGBT equality, led calls for the performance to be cancelled, claiming that Macklemoreā€™s track would be perceived as supporting same-sex marriage.