Telstra experiencing backlash over report it withdrew support for same sex marriage
Telstra is facing a growing social media backlash over a report that claims the brand retreated from its public support for same sex marriage following pressure from the Catholic Church.
A report in The Australian today claims Australia’s largest telco quietly pulled support for marriage equality after it was threatened with a boycott via a the Catholic archdiocese of Sydney business manager, Michael Digges, writing to the company to pressure it on the issue.
The story has since been picked up by a number of other media outlets and is receiving strong traction on social media, with some customers pledging to switch carriers.
The anger comes from a letter by Digges to the telco questioning Telstra’s decision to feature in two national advertisements for Australian Marriage Equality in May and June last year, and to include its logo on the lobby group’s website.
“You may be aware that the Catholic archdiocese of Sydney is a significant user of goods and services from many corporations, both local and international,” Digges wrote in the letter.
“Undoubtedly, many of the Catholic population of Sydney would be your employees, customers, partners and suppliers. It is therefore with grave concern that I write to you about the Marriage Equality for Australians campaign.”
Users on social media have fired up online over the issue with tweets and memes, such as:
A spokesman for Telstra did not directly address the allegations in The Australian, but told Mumbrella: “Telstra has demonstrated it places great importance on diversity and standing against discrimination, in all its forms. Our workforce reflects this diversity, including people of same-sex in a broad range of relationships.
“The Government has committed to putting same-sex marriage before the Australian people in a plebiscite and, ultimately, it will be Parliament who determines any changes to the institution of marriage. In view of this Telstra has no further plans to figure prominently in the wider public debate.”
Nic Christensen
Update April 14: Telstra has today issued the following statement from Andy Penn, CEO Telstra:
Following yesterday’s marriage equality debate around Telstra, I want to be clear about Telstra’s perspective as our long track record in diversity and inclusion was generally overlooked.
We clearly need to make this simple statement: Telstra supports marriage equality as part of the great importance we place on diversity and standing against all forms of discrimination.
Equally we recognise there are many and varied views and if we are all truly accepting of diversity, there should be room made for all of them.
While Telstra continues to support Australian Marriage Equality and has not changed that position, we have made a decision not to publicly participate in the debate further. This is because the proposed plebiscite process gives everyone an opportunity to contribute and out of respect, it is important we allow them to voice their own views.
However, this position was interpreted by some as us abandoning our tradition of supporting diversity and inclusion, be it in the community or in our workplace. This could not be further from the truth
Cultural Marxist bullies don’t like someone else using their threatening tactics…
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What a disappointing response. Telstra used to be a leader in this debate and could stand alongside global businesses such as Facebook, Google and Apple in showing support for human rights. When I worked at Telstra, I was incredibly proud of their stand to support LGBT employees and community. Right when it becomes the most important time to show support, they have caved in.
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Contract is up next week. I’m off to Optus.
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So tell me Telstra, are gay people and their families and friends not shareholders, employees, clients/customers, suppliers and other stakeholders too ?
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Telstra are supporting the wrong side of history.
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It’s not just Telstra that the Church is manipulating, both ALP & LIB/NAT do as they are told as well. School Chaplin program, Delays on Marriage bills etc.
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As one of the 80% of Australians who support gay marriage I am looking forward the 2016 Census where for the first time “No Religion” is at the top of the list of choices. No longer will Christian be the default choice for those too lazy to scroll down. Maybe then the corporations and politicians who are so easily swayed by the bullying tactics of these Christian groups will realise their self-professed power is an illusion. I would keep the 80% of the population happy, over the dwindling, ageing, minority that makes up these Christian groups. I don’t imagine these dinosaurs are even close to being a core customer base for Telstra anyway, maybe they alone are solely responsible for keeping the landline department open at Telstra.
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Good on you Telstra for standing up for truth and for Nature.
Nature created Man and Woman, that is the Natural way, the right way.
This is the equality way.
Obviously there are a lot of lost souls these days and and people have lost their abilities to think and reason.
They simply argue for what they believe whether it is right or wrong.
There is a huge agenda from all the Satanic groups to push for gays and lesbians.
So what I’m trying to say here Wake the F___ up people, how can you support and even think that a man and a man is love. that is not love, that is not natural. that is sick!!! If two guys or two women want to go and expirement and play around, that’s their business, but to actually give them the right to raise kids, to recognise them as married is SOO wrong, it’s so disrespectful to every natural couple ever married.
Think of the future generations, do you really want little girls to grow up with two fathers. Do you think a man can give a child the same nurturing and love as a mother who gave birth to her child, no way!!! Think of a little boy growing up with two mothers. Do you think a women can give a boy the guidence and support a man can give his son, No Way!!!
Every kids needs a Father and a Mother, the way Nature created it and has been for millions of years.
Can’t you see what’s going on that this is a big plan by the evil rulers who know that this will slow down the population, and that’s what they’re trying to do, they don’t really give a Sh_t about you gay or not.
I know some of you have gone too far into this argument to even see clearly anymore, but please wake up and stop encouraging this evil agenda that will destroy our future generations and humanity.
WELL DONE TELSTRA AND EVERY OTHER PERSON, COMPANY, CORPORATION GOVERNMENT THAT STANDS AGAINST THIS EVIL AGENDA> I won’t call it equality because a man and a man or a woman and a woman is NOT EQUAL to a man and a women.
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Well done Telstra! This absurd social experiment will be short-lived anyway. Those seeking to redefine marriage and trying to twist it into a meaningless, gender-less and childless sterile shell have nothing but slogans for arguments. Diversity? As long as you agree with them and their narrow self-serving, narcissistic world view.
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I’m changing to Telstra!
So are my non-christian mates.
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It’s funny how so called “Christians” are full of judgement and hate. They force their opinions on everyone. Their way, or the Hell’s way. Jesus didn’t say anything about homosexuality. He only preached “LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR”.
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What I find odd is that big companies take a stance on big political issues like this at all. I’m pro marriage equality. However, I wouldn’t expect to see Telstra take a stance on issues such as asylum seekers, abortion, the Sydney lockout laws and so on.
So, maybe the biggest mistake for a corporate is taking a stance on marriage equality in the first place. It’s always going to end in tears.
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“Speaking Truth” really made me laugh out loud
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Speaking as a man who raised a daughter as single father I am deeply offended by “Speaking Truth”‘s assertion that my love is and nurturing is somehow inadequate. My question is how can a bigot full of hatred raise a child with love? What if your child was gay, and you were telling them they are evil and wrong? My advice to my daughter on religion is that she would come across a lot of people who believed that their God had given them some right to make judgement over other people, and that she should always remember that those people are wrong. I believe this advice has served her well.
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Speaking Truth is hilarious. Love a good troll.
Telstra, if you publicly pick a side on any issue – be prepared to wear the heat. You can’t have it both ways.
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I think Speaking Truth took the placebo this morning.
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Matthew, unfortunately there are times when kids are raised by a single person, and that parent has to try their best to raise their kid/s. your daughter is YOUR daughter and I’m sure you give her all the love you have. Your situation or relationship to your daughter is totally different to having two males raising her or two females raising her where one of the partners are not the real parent of the child.
My post has nothing to do with religion, I’m talking about natural laws
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Telstra if you continue your support of homosexuality and other immoral practices you will loose the business of this long term customer.
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Oh dear. Is this page an indication of how it is out there? I think I will crawl under a rock and sleep it out to the end.
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Unless you publicly stand with the left on this issue, you will be hated, judged, called a bigot. There’s nothing ‘liberal’ about that. Freedom of speech and freedom to ‘practice, observe and express’ your religious conviction is also a human right under the law in Australia.
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