A Faulconbridge man has criticised same sex marriage supporters after his signs supporting the “no” case were stolen and vandalised.
A homemade “It’s ok to say no” sign in the front of Danny Wotherspoon’s Chapman Parade home was vandalised on Sunday night, September 17 – after being up for less than one day.
Critics also targeted Mr Wotherspoon’s bed and breakfast business, Rose Lindsay Cottage, on Facebook after the sign was displayed with one man describing it as “homophobic”.
“I would rather have Kim Jong-un stay at my place for a week then spend one night in this bed and breakfast,” the post read.
It was an accusation Mr Wotherspoon strongly rejected.
“We don’t discriminate at all, we never have. We thoroughly enjoy all our guests,” he said. “It’s completely unfounded and arrogant to even guess at our motives [for supporting the ‘no’ case]. My motive is primarily about defending free speech.”
Only days later, on September 19, a separate “It’s ok to say no” sign was taken from a utility parked in Ferguson Road near Mr Wotherspoon’s Abel Ecology business. “They ripped it off, jumped up and down on it, threw it in the back of their ute and drove away giving their characteristic salute,” said Mr Wotherspoon.
Blue Mountains police are investigating the incident, with Detective Chief Inspector Dietmar Almer saying the “theft of any property is a criminal offence”.
“This matter happened on a road that has a good deal of traffic upon it. Police are urging any person that may have information regarding this incident to contact Springwood Police Station on 4751 0299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
Mr Wotherspoon said the attacks on his two signs showed same-sex marriage supporters wanted the debate to be one-sided.
“What we’re finding is that the ‘yes’ case proponents are not willing for the debate to occur. They don’t want the other side to have a voice, full stop, let alone make it civil.”
What we’re finding is that the ‘yes’ case proponents are not willing for the debate to occur.
- Danny Wotherspoon
He said he had no problem when a ‘yes’ sign went up near his ‘no’ sign in Ferguson Road.
“The yes campaign people are narrowly casting any dissent as ‘white male homophobes’ when there is a whole bunch of gay individual and groups campaigning against this proposition,” he said.
He said the conduct of the ‘yes’ campaign had implications beyond the marriage postal ballot.
“If you shut down dissent on one issue, who’s next and what’s next?”.
