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- Monday, 8 February 2010
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner, Simon Overland was embroiled in a minor controversy on radio today for a posing in a photograph at yesterday’s Melbourne Pride March which later appeared in the media.
3AW presenter Neil Mitchell prompted listeners to respond to whether the Chief Commissioner had overstepped the mark in posing with the charity protest group, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
“Why is it okay for Simon Overland to pose with a bunch of blokes at the Gay Pride march, sending up nuns, potentially insulting Catholics,” Mitchell said on-air.
Mitchell liken the Sisters to sending up the Muslim faith by wearing a “hijab and a bikini.”
“Okay he’s supported the Gay Pride people, he’s made a statement about equality and tolerance, but at the same time posing with a bunch of blokes sexualising nuns and potentially sending up Catholicism… I believe he’s alienated a section of the community he supposedly represents.”
“The Chief Commissioner should be more careful.”
Pride March Victoria president, Brett Hayhoe responded on 3AW saying the Sister’s were well known for their charity work and the community had a difficult past with the Catholic Church.
“You have to look at what the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence do, they have a very, very long history.”
“It was basically a whole bunch of guys in New York who started it and the whole idea of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence was to raise funds for HIV and AIDs and they do that very, very well, they raise a lot of money for charities.”
“I think the Catholic Church more than any other church has had quite a philosophic problem with the gay community.”
