Westpac Bank caught out lying about homosexual sodomy statistics
WESTPAC have received backlash after encouraging their staff to vote Yes in the same-sex marriage plebiscite through a company wide email, which contained exaggerated information about LGBTI suicide rates in Australia.
The email, sent by the bank’s Youth Network to Westpac and St George employees, stated that a Yes vote was a “no brainer” and “would prevent 3000 suicides per year”.
But according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics a total of 2886 people died from intentional self harm in Australia in 2016, there was no indication as to what the motives were for these suicides or if sexual orientation or gender identity was a factor.
On the 2GB morning show Ray Hadley read out a section of the email, which was sent in anonymously, criticising the bank over their false claims.
“In 2016 Westpac group signed to an open letter in support of Australian marriage equality, believing it is the right thing to do, while we are not one to tell anyone how to roll, it’s a no-brainer,” Hadley read.
“If Tony Abbott’s daughter is publicly voting ‘Yes’, so should you. Along with ensuring all our colleagues and mates feel included and have equal rights, legalising same-sex marriage would prevent 3000 suicides per year.” Westpac spokesman David Lording confirmed that the email was sent to as many as 10,000 of the bank’s 40,000 employees and said the error would be corrected, reported The Australian.
But the statistics were from the USA. That claim relied on U.S. research published in April in JAMA Paediatrics finding a seven per cent reduction in suicide attempts by high school students from gay marriage being instituted.
The research was disputed by other academics as the motives for suicide attempts weren't reported and there was often not a 'single cause'.
