ABC crime reporter Mark Reddie has revealed he received a hate letter from a family member about his sexuality on World Pride Day.
The Australian journalist took to social media on June 29 to remember the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York City, and lamented the fact he is still being confronted with “hate mail” half a century on from the historic gay rights uprising at the Stonewall Inn.
WATCH why Australian soccer pro Andy Brennan is so happy he came out to the nation:
“50 years since the #StonewallRiots paved the way for myself and so many others to live in the world without fear of persecution based on sexuality,” he tweeted alongside a photo of a gay pride flag and NYC billboard advertising the 2019 Met Gala which had a ‘Camp’ theme.
“Unfortunately on this momentous day, I received hate mail from an extended family member. We still have a long way to go #WorldPride 2019,” he finished, referencing the civil rights challenges still faced by the LGBT community.
Followers were quick to support the broadcaster, with one man tweeting: “Screw the hate mail! you’re a great gay. Visibility and pride are the only defence you need against hate mail. I’ve seen you on TV and Twitter and you do a great job at both. LGBTQ pride!”
Another fan wrote: “For that family member to even bother to spread hate makes you wonder what they’re so afraid of in themselves. Keep up the good work Mark.”
One woman simply said: “Keep being wonderful and true to yourself.”
Reddie was in New York City to march in the gay pride parade alongside 200 Australians in the Sydney float, as well as 150,000 total participants and an estimated four million spectators.
The tribute swept through midtown Manhattan and the iconic borough of Greenwich Village in homage to the Stonewall Riots where patrons of the Stonewall Inn gay bar resisted a police raid on June 28, 1969.
Reddie shared a series of photos from the New York parade which was festooned with rainbow flags and anti-Trump placards calling for equal rights.
Since his inauguration, Donald Trump has banned transgender people from military service, cut funding for HIV and AIDS research and supported the closure of Planned Parenthood facilities across the US.
The commemorations came as the American Queer Liberation March held it’s own event for the first time, protesting corporate and police involvement in Pride celebrations, The Independent reports.
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