Alex Greenwich, the only openly gay member of Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) state parliament, recently found himself at the center of a controversy when he received a shocking homophobic tweet from Sydney MP Mark Latham. The tweet, which has since been deleted, was in response to an article in which Greenwich had criticized Latham as a “disgusting human being” concerning LGBTQ+ protestors being targeted outside an event where Latham was speaking.
Latham, once the leader of One Nation in NSW but having since left the party, replied with a graphic and homophobic description of sex acts. Greenwich, reflecting on the hateful message, admitted to being initially in shock, with fellow journalists expressing their shock at the severity of the tweet.
Impact and Legal Battle
As the day progressed, the impact of the hateful tweet became apparent to Alex Greenwich, eventually leading to an emotional response. He confessed to crying over the incident, something his husband, Victor Hoeld, had never seen him do before. Even leaving Sydney did not diminish the impact of Latham’s homophobic tweet.
In court documents, Greenwich described the subsequent harassment he faced, including “threats, repeated jibes, hatred, homophobic comments, and contempt and ridicule.” His legal team argued that Latham’s tweet was defamatory, suggesting that Greenwich was “not a fit and proper person to be a member of the NSW parliament” due to engaging in “disgusting sexual activities.” Latham, however, has refused to apologize, claiming his tweet was an “honest opinion” on a matter of public interest.
Toll on Greenwich
The influx of hate and bigotry that followed the tweet has taken a toll on Alex Greenwich, who has long focused on policies and legislative reforms. Now, he finds himself targeted not for his political stances but for his sexuality, which he describes as a “confronting impact.” In addition to pursuing legal action for defamation, Greenwich has also launched a case against Latham for suggesting that he “goes to schools to groom children to become homosexual.” He has filed a complaint of homosexual vilification and sexual harassment against Latham, as well as a police complaint.
As this legal battle unfolds, it highlights the ongoing struggle against homophobia and hate speech in the political arena, underscoring the importance of advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion.
