Justice Kirby Bashes The Bishops
High Court judge and Same Same 25er Michael Kirby has spoken out about Peter Jensen and George Pell – the Anglican and Catholic archbishops of Sydney, saying that their homophobic attitudes rub off on the general public, and stand in the way of people adopting a more tolerant attitude towards gays and lesbians.
“Often, it has to be said, [people are uncomfortable with gays because of] religion,” Kirby told ABC Radio’s Sunday Profile. “It comes from people’s religious upbringing, reinforced even to this day by religious instruction, and it has to be said, religious instruction from the two archbishops of Sydney.”
While his partner Johan has urged him to leave the church, Kirby has remained despite the discrimination.
“My partner, Johan, is not a believer and he constantly says to me, ‘I don’t understand how one of the most intelligent people in this country can take any of this stuff seriously’.”
Kirby’s also quite philosophical about the discrimination that he faces from some of his colleagues.
“We have our different values and our different life experiences, and they have theirs and I have to respect theirs,” says Kirby. “If I’d had a different life experience, maybe I would have been a bit different.”
Kirby says that while a variety of judges’ philosophies can be a good thing, “because then you have an interaction and a frisson of opinion within the court,” he also at times feels like he is in a minority of one, “and that really is different,” says Kirby. “You can’t have as rich a human relationship with people in those circumstances.”
dreadcircus
said ages ago