Students have the option of revealing their sexual orientation. Photo: Today
Today and The Voice host Sonia Kruger has once again found herself in hot water after criticising a scholarship for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) students.
Kruger’s comments on Today followed an article in The Australian on Monday that revealed the Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN) had reserved a place in its Year 10 scholarship program for an LGBTI student.
Kruger, who recently called for a ban on Muslim immigration to Australia, branded the decision “odd” and labelled the practise “reverse discrimination”.
She said scholarships should be awarded based on merit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpXfcq1vzpE
Kruger made her comments on Today Extra‘s segment The Mixed Grill – the same segment on which she called for Muslims to be banned from entering Australia after the terror attack in Nice.
She was flanked by host Karl Stefanovic and panellist David Campbell as she criticised the ABCN scholarship.
The ABCN is a non-profit foundation that claims to connect “business with disadvantaged education through mentoring and partnership programs”.
It receives over $300,000 in donations each year and holds sponsorship deals with Microsoft and the Commonwealth Bank.
The scholarship application allows students to reveal sexual preferences. Photo: ABCN
Kruger said she felt uneasy about teenagers being asked to share their sexual preferences in the scholarship application.
“You’re asking somebody about their sexual preferences, and I find that that’s a really odd thing to do,” she said.
“Whether it’s a job or whether it’s a scholarship.”
So, Sonia Kruger is an expert on succeeding based on merit, is she?
I see.
O-o— Dave Donovan (@davrosz) August 1, 2016
The article in Monday’s The Australian featured comment from the spokesperson of lobby group Voice Australia, Damian Wyld, who said the program was an example of ideological activism pushed by LGBTI lobby groups.
“Many 15-year-olds are still working through issues around sexuality,” Mr Wyld told the newspaper.
“Offering a financial incentive to identify as ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or intersex’ is completely inappropriate.”
https://twitter.com/matwhi/status/759950723362664448
The scholarship is worth $7000 over three years, with just one place being reserved for an LGBTI student.
Kruger was savaged on social media. Photo: Getty
The money is supposed to go toward educational expenses such as books, tuition, computers and uniforms.
Mr Wyld suggested the ABCN was erring from its policy of assisting disadvantaged children by reserving the place.
According to mental health charity Beyond Blue, same-sex attracted Australians are 14 times more likely to attempt suicide.
Kruger did not criticise LGBTI students, and noted they were more likely to have trouble with mental illness.
“There’s a minority there who suffer and I get that,” she said.
Given this was Kruger’s second controversial comment in just a few weeks, the online backlash was predictably strong.
“Is Sonia Kruger available for the royal commission?” joked one viewer.
“So who is the weirdo who keeps asking Sonia Kruger questions that aren’t about celebrities dancing?” asked another.
I’m sick of hearing Sonia Kruger’s unsolicited opinions.
Who does she think she is?
Waleed Aly?— Citizen Assange (@Senator_Assange) August 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/DavidParis/status/759978809038733312
Kruger’s comments come days after Today host Karl Stefanovic was forced to apologise profusely for transphobic comments.
Stefanovic referred to transgender people as “trannies” and poked fun at the minority by jokingly holding up an image from the movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
Following a heated backlash online, Stefanovic made a lengthy apology on Today which drew praise from many.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BKUtppXxVw