Is One Nation Really Chasing the Gay Vote?

One Nation is a topic of discussion

Barnaby Joyce knows how to get attention with his words, like saying One Nation is one of the gayest parties

A former One Nation candidate said something bad about gay people, and the party quickly said they did not agree

The party removed the candidate's page from their website within 30 minutes of being asked about it

Taking down the webpage sent a clear message

But the candidate could still be part of the party if a spot opens up, so removing the webpage does not fix everything

Barnaby Joyce said the party has many gay members and they just want to be accepted

Joyce said he thinks One Nation has a lot of gay people in it

He said, 'I don't want to say it, but I think we're one of the gayest parties in Australia'

Joyce said the gay people in the party just want to be treated like everyone else

He did not say if the candidate who said bad things about gay people was still part of the party

But he said removing someone's webpage is a strong statement

One Nation's leader, Pauline Hanson, said she did not agree with the candidate's views

The party's leader in Western Australia also said the candidate's comments did not reflect the party's views

The candidate's webpage was removed from the party's website

People are talking about One Nation's views on gay issues

By the end of the week, people were making jokes about Barnaby Joyce's comments

MPs were amused by the sudden change in One Nation's stance on gay issues

There were many memes and jokes about it on social media

Many people pointed out that One Nation has made homophobic comments in the past

In 1996, Pauline Hanson said she did not like the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

Hanson said she still does not like the Mardi Gras, but it is just her personal opinion

She said people's sexuality should be private

Hanson knows the Mardi Gras brings in tourists and money, but she still does not like it

Pauline Hanson and One Nation have changed their views on gay issues over time

But the party still has people with different views on gay rights

The party attracts people with various views on gay issues, including its own MPs

The debate about same-sex marriage is no longer a big issue in mainstream politics

Now, the focus is on gender and trans issues

Homophobia still exists, but it is not as accepted in mainstream politics

Cory Bernardi, a former Liberal senator, made controversial comments about same-sex marriage

He said he stood by his comments and was not bothered if people found them offensive

But One Nation also has an openly gay MP, Jason Virgo, who spoke about his partner in parliament

Virgo said his partner is from Indonesia and is a Muslim

He said he is thankful for the support of his friends, including his partner

Virgo loves migrants and thinks most of them are just looking for a better life

He said two things can be true at once, and migration levels have become too high

The gay vote has a political price

Cory Bernardi and Jason Virgo show the contradictions within One Nation

One Nation is growing, but it still has many contradictions

Immigration is still a key issue for One Nation, but gay rights are a different story

For all the jokes, Barnaby Joyce is onto something

Marriage equality has been legal in Australia for over eight years, and it is no longer a big issue

There is no single 'gay vote' because gay and lesbian Australians have different political views

But being hostile to gay voters comes with a political price

The 2026 Census will give us a clearer picture of how many gay, lesbian, and bisexual Australians there are

The results will not show how they vote, but parties will know how many gay voters are in their electorates

One Nation is trying to broaden its base

Joyce knows how to get attention, and his message to gay voters was clear

If One Nation wants to replace the Liberals and Nationals, it needs a broader voter base

It needs voters who agree with the party on some issues but not on social views

Liberal Senator Dave Sharma said he has never seen One Nation in the Mardi Gras parade

It is hard to imagine Pauline Hanson in the Mardi Gras parade

The real test for One Nation is not about attending the Mardi Gras, but about the candidates they choose

Joyce can say One Nation is one of the gayest parties, but the party needs to prove it

Patricia Karvelas is the host of ABC News Afternoon Briefing

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