WA Councillor Claims Paedophiles Are Part Of The LGBTQIA+ Community
Dr Thomas Brough, an Albany, WA, councillor and local emergency doctor, has sparked outrage by reiterating his offensive comments allegedly linking the LGBTQIA+ community with paedophiles, reports the ABC. Despite criticism from his employer, the WA Country Health Service, and members of Albany Pride, Brough has refused to apologise for his statements during a recent council meeting.
Protests and Condemnation
Prior to the council meeting, between 40 to 50 people gathered with Albany Pride to condemn Dr Brough’s comments. Millie Reid, the vice president of Albany Pride, warned that such unfounded comments toward the LGBTQIA+ community could put people at risk and have real-world consequences. She emphasised that the LGBTQIA+ community consists of families, children, partners, and parents who are impacted by the negative attention they receive from people they should be able to trust.
Doubling Down on Offensive Claims
During the council meeting, Dr Brough claimed that his comments had been “lost in translation”. However, instead of apologising, he proceeded to repeat his initial claim that some people wanted to see paedophiles included in the LGBTQIA+ community. This led to an intervention by Deputy Mayor Paul Terry, who argued that Dr Brough was speaking of “political ideology” rather than local government affairs. Mayor Greg Stocks agreed with Cr Terry and eventually told Dr Brough to end his speech.
The WA Country Health Service, Dr Brough’s employer, has criticised his comments, and it remains to be seen what actions they may take in response to his repeated offensive statements. Albany Pride is also planning to lodge a formal complaint against Dr Brough, which could lead to further consequences for the councillor.
The LGBTQIA+ community in Albany and beyond has expressed their disappointment and frustration with Dr Brough’s comments, emphasising the need for elected officials to promote inclusivity and understanding rather than perpetuating harmful misinformation.
