So GoFundMe has shut down Israel Folau’s fundraiser. For those who have been living under a rock lately, Israel Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia for quoting from the Bible.
And his fundraiser was to help pay the legal costs for his court battle against Raelene Castle and her diversity-is-for-everyone-except-Christians crew.
But it is more truthful to say that GoFundMe has shut down the fundraiser of thousands of Australians who want to support Israel Folau. After all, they are the ones who were charged a fee to use this service.
I was one of these people.
I live in Queensland. I used the service provided by GoFundMe to donate to Israel Folau. And like many others I did so on the basis of my religious beliefs and to show my support for Israel Folau who has been punished for expressing a mainstream Christian viewpoint.
And now GoFundMe has scarpered with my donation plus a $10 fee, stating piously that:
As a company, we are absolutely committed to the fight for equality for LGBTIQ+ people and fostering an environment of inclusivity.
While we welcome GoFundMes engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.
Did I say piously? Sorry, I meant politically. GoFundMe issued a political statement about a fundraiser motivated by religious belief. And GoFundMe happens to have the exact opposite political and religious beliefs as me, their customer.
Which brings us to an interesting point. It is unlawful in Queensland for service providers to discriminate on the grounds of religious or political belief.
Specifically, it is unlawful to fail to supply goods or services on these gounds. It is illegal to discriminate in the terms on which goods or services are supplied. It is against the law to discriminate in the way goods or services are supplied. And, just to make it clear, it is even prohibited to treat another person unfavourably in any way in connection with the supply of goods or services.
See:
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ACT 1991 – SECT 7
Discrimination on the basis of certain attributes prohibited
7 DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF CERTAIN ATTRIBUTES PROHIBITED
The Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of the following attributes—
(a) sex;
(b) relationship status;
(c) pregnancy;
(d) parental status;
(e) breastfeeding;
(f) age;
(g) race;
(h) impairment;
(i) religious belief or religious activity;
(j) political belief or activity;
(k) trade union activity;
(l) lawful sexual activity;
(m) gender identity;
(n) sexuality;
(o) family responsibilities;
(p) association with, or relation to, a person identified on the basis of any of the above attributes.
Interestingly, it is also unlawful to discriminate on grounds of ‘gender identity’ and ‘sexuality’ but we all know that Christians do not have a gender identity or sexuality so these provisions obviously only apply to other people.
And see:
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ACT 1991 – SECT 46
Discrimination in goods and services area
46 DISCRIMINATION IN GOODS AND SERVICES AREA
(1) A person who supplies goods or services (whether or not for reward or profit) must not discriminate against another person—
(a) by failing to supply the goods or services; or
(b) in the terms on which goods or services are supplied; or
(c) in the way in which goods or services are supplied; or
(d) by treating the other person unfavourably in any way in connection with the supply of goods and services.
(2) In this section, a reference to a person who supplies goods and services does not include an association that—
(a) is established for social, literary, cultural, political, sporting, athletic, recreational, community service or any other similar lawful purposes; and
(b) does not carry out its purposes for the purpose of making a profit.
And this is not just the case in Queensland. Victoria has similar laws.
Which brings us to another interesting point.
There is absolutely no point taking a complaint about this to the Diversity Commissars.
While GoFundMe has broken sacred anti-discrimination laws in Queensland and Victoria, the bodies that oversee those laws are entirely corrupted, biased and broken.
The law might state that it is illegal to discriminate on the grounds of religious or political belief in the provision of goods or services. But we all know that there is simply no way the GroupThink Bureaucrats with their 1984 hats on will ever do anything to action a complaint made by Christians against the Gaystapo.
The words in the laws might have meanings but we all know those laws were only meant to protect special people at the expense of others.
And this is the key take away of the Israel Folau farce. Every time you hear the words ‘respect’, ‘diversity’ or ‘inclusion’ you know that some poor sod is about to be sacked, or some outcast is about to be told why they can’t play because they quoted from the Bible.
The entire anti-discrimination industry is a hypocritical sham. If we learn one thing from this saga, it must be that we don’t need a religious discrimination law. What we need to do is to abolish the human rights rent-seekers who are leeching off taxpayers to impose their utterly joyless worldview on all of us.
The last thing any of us need is for a state or commonwealth parliament to give this mob more power over religion.
July 14, 2019
Why don’t the ACL use some of the Izzy funds to assist Bernard Gaynor’s legal fight? It is in no way different. Or set a similar fund up for Bernard Gaynor?
Difference? One is more famous than the other?????
June 25, 2019
Bernard, im not sure about state laws, but federally there are grounds to discriminate against a group to favor a minority – sorry don’t have the act. From memory, federal laws override state, please correct me if I’m wrong.
I completely support Israel Folau!
June 25, 2019
Hi Bernard,
I got an email from GoFundMe that I will receive my donation and the admin fee back within 3-7 business days. I wonder what the short term money market is paying in interest?
On a better note, ACL is going to manage an account to receive donations to Israel and they have kicked in $100k of their own funds to start it off.
For those of us who want to donate to the cause, this should be welcome news.
June 25, 2019
Great to see such wonderful support for Israel from the christian community
I also know that many non- christians also recognise the danger to their own freedom . Prayer for them that they might come to know Jesus the Christ.
June 25, 2019
Hi Bernard, I have just seen on Facebook that ACL has set up an alternative funding website for Israel: https://www.acl.org.au/donate_izzy
It is doing well but needs to be publicised so more of the people who donated via go fund me can hear about it.
June 25, 2019
good on you Bernard ,again the Christian view is being sullied and always wrong.
I believe the Christian believers in Australia are being discriminated against, it is said in the good book this would happen .
OK to go fund me for some Mosque in WA and one is aware of the beliefs of the users of that building OH that s OK ,just think how much this lot that run go fund me make on each donation $10 and very 100 donations another grand in the kick.
A racket if ever there was one
What say we start a go fund me for donations to a worthy Christian footballer who has fallen on hard times due to his beliefs and spoke of what is written in the bible ,will they accept that.
There must be some way of all those funds being directed to some point where that can be dispersed for what they are intended for with out a $10 rip off on each one
AND TONIGHT up pops that goose from Godford , riling against Izzy for his beliefs and he a so called priest
June 24, 2019
Should be a simple breach of contract by GoFundMe. They accepted the fund in the first place, and then refuse to deliver? So, they are going to refund all donations. Are you saying they are going to keep $10 from every donation? I am livid at this pack of A$$ hats!
They have taken away my voice of support for Israel!
June 26, 2019
Rob, my email from GoFundMe says that they will be refunding both my donation and tip. I will be putting that money into the new fund at ACL when I receive it.
June 24, 2019
I can’t share on facebook.
June 24, 2019
My understanding is that Israel may have already received the donations up to the $700,000.00 mark.
I read that GoFundMe will be returning anything donated after the time they closed the account.
So hopefully, my donation got through.
If not, I hope they also refund the $5.00 processing fee. Wouldn’t want them to be tainted by money they don’t agree with (sarc).
June 24, 2019
Well Bernard. Keep up the fight.
GoFundMe should be closed down.
Here are some alternatives: https://blog.fundly.com/gofundme-alternatives/
June 24, 2019
‘…we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.’ GoFundMe statement, is so hypocritical, so Israel Folau is not being discriminated nor excluded??
And how about those who contributed??
June 24, 2019
This excerpt may be of interest from the link:
https://www.theunshackled.net/rundown/israel-folaus-gofundme-removed/
“Though it should be noted that GoFundMe has been used to fund legal expenses before. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young used it to crowdfund her defamation case against former Senator David Leyonhjelm who accused her of saying all men are rapists.
$100,000 was also raised for Will Connolly who egged former Senator Fraser Anning to fund a legal defence for his assault to buy more eggs. Connolly eventually donated the funds to the Christchurch Terror attack victims.”
June 24, 2019
“While we welcome GoFundMes engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.” Aren’t they discriminating and excluding Israel? Bloody hypocrites!! I hope GoFundMe will be doing rounds with Israel in the courts too!
June 24, 2019
Seriously? I had wondered what would happen to the thousands already donated? Isn’t that complete and total theft if they have taken your money that was intended and ONLY donated to the cause/person stated? I have never donated using this service and never ever will. Have never trusted organisations like this or even the Red Cross. I have always maintained if I give someone a hand it is pure and direct. One thing is for sure this saga is defining some seriously scary boundaries those of us who are awake, are alerted by
June 24, 2019
Egg boys gofundme was for legal expenses too, there were no such expenses but he was given the money, ans Sarah Hansen-Young’s gofundme is also for legal expenses. Smacks totally of double standards and supression of free speech and the crushing of christianity
June 24, 2019
Australia has gone FULL SOVIET.
June 24, 2019
Bernard,
Is there NO other avenue of complaint about this breach of Law?
Are we to just roll over and accept this? All 9,000 of us?
The bureaucrats can’t be accused of doing nothing… if no-one
even lodges a complaint.
Meanwhile, can you (or perhaps you and Martyn Iles between you)
organise an alternative collection point for our donations?
This IS our fight as much as it is Izzy’s. Gofundme’s cowardly,
hypocritical betrayal will probably only serve to increase the
outrage and anger of the 9,000 people who have already come out
and made a very clear statement about where they stand.
I’m with Izzy and I don’t want my small contribution to be
prevented from reaching him because of cowardice and treachery.
Where to next?
June 24, 2019
Agreed. Common Bernard please organize and alternative funding option
June 24, 2019
Bernard, can you get Izzy to set up a trust fund, like the one you have for our donations to you?
We need the avenue to contribute and we need Every contributor to be made aware of that option.
June 24, 2019
The claim that, ‘homophobia’ is the primary reason for the high level of gay-suicide, is debatable. Refer:
https://www.conservapedia.com/Homosexuality_and_health
June 24, 2019
A recent article on Quadrant points out that there is little or no evidence of that, but that in fact those who say that homophobia causes youth suicide may actually be contributing to youth suicide (according to studies by psychologists and mental health professionals).
https://quadrant.org.au/opinion/qed/2019/05/gay-teens-and-the-suicide-meme/
June 25, 2019
Wow John.
I’ve bookmarked that page. Great reference.
Thank you.
I reckon all GoFundMe has done is to fire up freedom loving people to give more.
I believe it will be egg on their face.
June 24, 2019
AND they remove Israel Folau’s campaign but not Sarah Hanson Youngs ??? Talk about discrimination ! I am ropable at this decision. I will NEVER again support a G.F.M. campaign. https://www.gofundme.com/SarahHansonYoung-LegalFund
June 24, 2019
I may have read it wrong but I thought the wording of go fund me’s position is that the service will not support the funding of a legal defence in the circumstances of a criminal offence. Didn’t know that Israel has been charged with a criminal offence over this matter!
Just defending his personal position of freedom of expression.
June 25, 2019
Two words: “Egg Boy” – his GFM campaign was for legal defence os an ASSULT CHARGE!!
June 24, 2019
This is unbelievable, how dare they!
I am so angry about this.
June 24, 2019
Start a gofundme to sue gofundme? ?