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White Magazine shuts as advertisers withdraw due to same-sex marriage dispute

Bridal publication White Magazine has announced it will be closing its operations after the company failed to feature same-sex couples and weddings.

As a result, the magazine’s advertisers and sponsors withdrew from the publication, leaving the company “no longer economically viable”.

White Magazine closes after failing to include sam-sex couples and weddings

Posting a ‘farewell’ blog on its website, White Magazine said: “A campaign was launched targeting the magazine, our team and our advertisers. Couples who have featured in our magazine have also been the subject of online abuse despite their individual beliefs. We’re really saddened by this.

“The result has been that a number of advertisers withdrew their sponsorship out of fear of being judged, or in protest. We have had to recognise the reality that White Magazine is no longer economically viable.”

The Christian publishers, who posted the farewell on Saturday, said despite having “no agenda but love” the publication had received “a flood of judgement”.

White Magazine’s founders, Luke and Carla Burrell, said the magazine, its team and its advertisers were the target of an unfavourable campaign.

“Instead of allowing us the space to work through our thoughts and feelings, or being willing to engage in brave conversations to really hear each other’s stories, some have just blindly demanded that we pick a side.

“We’re not about sides, we’re about love, patience and kindness,” the farewell blog continued.

The magazine, which launched 12 years ago, included a directory of brands and businesses it worked with, such as bridal brands, catering companies, venues, florists, stylists and photographers.

White Magazine founders Luke and Carla Burrell

In a video posted at the conclusion of the blog, its founders discussed the plebiscite vote and the magazine’s position and beliefs.

Carla Burrell said White Magazine didn’t want to enter into “that conversation” and “add heat to a hot conversation”.

“It has just come to a point where there is just a clash against us and against culture and hurting people isn’t part of what we want to do.

“When the plebiscite happened, everybody was putting up their support of the campaign, supporting same-sex marriage.

“We started getting messages then saying ‘you’re the only magazine in Australia that’s not showing your support like come on guys jump on board, move forward with 2018’, but then there was always something that just stopped us because we just didn’t want to enter into that conversation that wasn’t a loving conversation.

Carla Burrell’s husband, Luke, agreed arguing that values are now more important than relationships.

“The accusations that it is unfair that at this time we are not featuring same-sex marriage, I get that can be hurtful and people feel like that’s unfair and that is part of the tear within us because we don’t want anyone to feel that way.

“You see beliefs and values tear families and marriages and friendships apart.

“Why are values becoming more important than relationships and why can’t we have diversity of thought and feelings? I think without those things we are not progressing.”

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