Barnaby Joyce slams ‘vindictive trope’ labelling One Nation as homophobic while adding a letter to LGBTQI+ acronym

Barnaby Joyce has accused critics of pushing a “vindictive trope” that paints One Nation as a “pack of homophobes”.

The One Nation MP defended his party on Sunrise on Monday after leader Pauline Hanson told News24 on Sunday she did not like Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and argued sexuality should remain “behind closed doors”.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Pauline Hanson’s Mardi Gras comments spark debate

Joyce said he supported what he called the “LGBTQI+H community”, adding H for heterosexual because it “covers all bases”.

“Your sexuality, no matter what it is, is not to be glorified, not to be diminished, not to be vilified; it’s just your private life… keep your private life to yourself,” he said.

Joyce said people had developed a “vindictive trope” against One Nation and were attempting to portray its members as a “pack of homophobes”.

“We’re not racist, we’re not homophobes, but we always get these tropes thrown at us because people don’t want to meet us on even ground,” he said.

“We don’t care what your sexuality is, it’s your business.” Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras chief executive James Matheson rejected Hanson’s suggestion LGBTQIA+ people should live “behind closed doors” and invited the One Nation leader to attend the event.

“Mardi Gras is a party, a protest and a promise that LGBTQIA+ people don’t have to live ‘behind closed doors’, no matter who’d prefer it that way… Mardi Gras has always responded to prejudice with humour, creativity and a fabulous outfit. So Pauline, the invitation remains open. Come along one year. You might even like it,” Matheson said.

Joyce ruled out attending Mardi Gras but insisted that was a personal decision.

“You can absolutely bet I will not go to the Mardi Gras, but that’s my business, and we just want you to live your own life,” he said.

“But its your life, it’s not so much something that other people have to stop the traffic for.”

Joyce said he did not have an opinion on Mardi Gras itself because he had nothing to do with the event.

Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek, who has attended almost every Mardi Gras during the past 35 years, told Sunrise it was a “great opportunity to celebrate what’s fantastic about Sydney” and generated about $40 million for the local economy each year.