Opinion | Israel Folau posts homophobic social media rant: diverse views are fine, but this expression is a hate crime
- Language is powerful, and the way Folau chose to make his point differentiates it from free speech and makes it bigotry
- Strong and condemning phrases empower other bigots to act on their homophobia – make Folau’s Tweet a hate crime
Australian rugby player Israel Folau has taken to social media once again to express his religious views. In the wake of a decision in Tasmania for optional listing of gender on birth certificates, Folau posted on Instagram: “Warning – Drunks, Homosexuals, Adulterers, Liars, Fornicators, Thieves, Atheists, Idolaters. HELL AWAITS YOU. REPENT! ONLY JESUS SAVES”.
The man doesn’t beat around the bush. Folau has now entered the murky area between free speech, the right to religious views and out and out hate speech.
On Twitter he added: “The devil has blinded so many people in this world, REPENT and turn away from your evil ways. Turn to Jesus Christ who will set you free,” with a screen shot of the Tasmanian headline.
After all, Australia captain David Pocock uses his platform to promote his political views, which happen to be the polar opposite of Folau’s, without threat of termination.
But there is a difference between Folau and Pocock, and it is a difference that puts Folau out of protected category – religion – and into an altogether less desirable one – that of a bigot hiding behind religious views.
There is nothing inherently wrong with being religious, but you can’t so strongly condemn groups of people to hell and think it is OK. It empowers others to take physical or violent action against the LGBT+ community and is thus a hate crime.
