TO: News Departments

FROM: Malcolm Andrews

P.O. Box 923 Newport,N.S.W 2106

Sydney Australia

Ph: Country Code 61 500 585 555 Fax: 61 500 501 555

Web Site http://www.aarv.net

Email: malcolmwva@hotmail.com

SYDNEY—(November 9, 1999) On Saturday 2nd October 1999, homosexual activists sacrilegiously declared war on Hindus. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Committee staged their annual "Sleaze Ball" in Sydney at the Hordern Pavilion, with the theme of "HomoSutra." The bigoted event was nothing more than an anti religious, obscene denigration of sacred symbols and Hindu Deities.

Incredibly, this all-night gala was funded in part by the Australian government, Qantas, Telstra and hotel chains, such as Parkroyal, Centra and Travelodge, whose advertising campaigns often promote multiculturalism in connection with their products and services. Other sponsors included South Sydney Council, Pepsi, City Search, South Corp. Wines, Tooheys Brewery and United Distillers.

Dhiren Kumar of the Prakash Ramayan Mandali said, "The sponsors support of this affair is hypocritical and a slap in the face of the Hindu community."

Large full-color posters advertising the "good karma gay and lesbian event" were displayed all over Sydney showing a mock Lord Vishnu, with tilak (a sacred symbol worshipped by all Hindus) on His forehead in the shape of a penis and testicles. While one of His hands holds a lotus flower, another hand caresses a large crystal ball with two men inside clearly engaging in anal sex. Below this image, is a naked four-handed woman also holding a lotus flower and crystal ball with two women having sex together.

The centerpiece decoration on stage at the event was an 18 foot (6 meter) tall by 25 foot wide statue of Ganesh, with huge breasts. Pre-event publicity encouraged people to come and offer "interpretive dance and then manifest happily in an explosion of carnal queer karma." Dancers clad in leather fetish garb including full leather face masks, simulated oral, anal and group sex in front of "Gaynesh". In the Gay and Lesbian newspaper "Brother Sister" (Queensland Edition, Issue 156) the taking of drugs at the ‘Sleaze Ball’ was also encouraged, "With the usual Sleaze Ball festivities comes the accompanying consumption of drugs and alcohol… Score your drugs early from someone you know and trust, and avoid scoring on the night."

Many sacred deities including Lord Vishnu, Lord Rama, Lord Shiva, Lord Buddha, Ganesh and Parvati were also included as decorations. In addition, large forms of men engaging in oral sex, and women having sex with each other hung from the ceiling.

Malcolm Andrews of the World Vaishnava Association (WVA) stated, "Every scripture of the world states that homosexual behavior is displeasing to God, and therefore, morally wrong. In Hinduism, The Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, the Narada Purana and other Vedic literatures clearly point this out. This offensive Sleaze Ball theme erroneously gives the impression that Hinduism promotes and accepts homosexuality, promiscuity and drug use. This is absolutely false and misleading."

Chandra Prasad, secretary of Hindu Satsang Sabha, said, "This is not nice. We revere these gods. Leave us alone to practice our religion in peace and dignity."

Pandit Jagdish, a priest, marriage celebrant and President of Hindu Dharam Sabha added, "They [organisers] shouldn’t be playing with religion…Their interpretation is wrong. Ganesh is not gay."

Representing -- EarthSave (ES), Brandon Raynor said, "It’s outrageous and totally hypocritical that homosexual activists are bludgeoning a minority religion with such offensive, sacrilegious materials. Here in NSW, they’ve lobbied government to pass an anti-vilification law that protects themselves, homosexuals, yet they think it’s perfectly OK to vilify and blaspheme people of religious faiths. Today it’s Hindus, tomorrow it’ll be Christians, Buddhists, or Muslims. If there’s going to be an anti-vilification law, then it should include people of all religions."

Radha-Krishnadas, from the Australian School of Meditation (ASM) said, "It deeply saddens me that homosexual activists are engaging in such obvious hatemongering. This kind of religion bashing is anti-Hindu, anti-family, anti-Australian and anti-humanity. Government and businesses should be ashamed for sponsoring this hateful agenda."

An interfaith coalition called the Alliance Against Religious Vilification (AARV) has formed to protest the "Sleaze Ball" desecration of Hinduism, and any future attacks on any religious faith. As of today, the following individuals and groups have signed on:

American Hindus Against Defamation

Anand Yoga Centre Auckland

Auckland Satsang Ramayan Mandli

Australian Family Alliance

Australians Against the Promotion of Homosexuality

Australian School of Meditation

Bharata Mandhir Auckland

Bishwashanti Ashram Auckland

Christians for Morality

Community and Family Rights Council

EarthSave

Hindu Dharam Sabha of NSW Australia

Hindu Student Council

Hindu Swayamswak Sangh

New Zealand School of Meditation

OFBJP-Overseas Friends Of BJP (Bharatya Janta Party)

Pandit Brijbhusan Lal

Prakash Ramayan Mandali

Rama Krishna Mandhir Auckland

Rev Fred Nile

Sanatan Dharma Ramayan Mandali

Sanatan Vedic Dharam Sabha of Australia

Satsang Hindu Maha Sabha

Sri Sanatan Dharma Purohit Brahman Maha Sabha Of New Zealand

Stop Promoting Homosexuality International

Stop Promoting Homosexuality New Zealand

World Vaishnava Association

Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America

Vishwa Shanti Ashram New Zealand

Andrews said, "We have sent letters and offending materials from the "Sleaze Ball" event to sponsors and to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Committee. What we are demanding is a public apology to the Hindu community," Andrews stated, "and that the sponsors also promise to withdraw all future funding to any anti-religious and anti-multicultural event."

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