Opera Australia Was Right to Sack Her

Photo Credit: TamarIveri.com

This morning, I woke up early and found a host of think pieces playing devil's advocate, asking if maybe her termination was too mean. Here's why all that misses the mark.

I find it very curious - very curious, indeed - that this kind of posturing only happens when a marginalized, minority group was the original target of hatred or abuse.

When someone says that rising up against a person who has used their platform to spout hatred is "just as bad," they are totally missing the point. Threatening a boycott and signing a petition to ask that Opera Australia remove Iveri from the program is in no way, shape, or form "just as bad" as her verbal assault against LGBT people that supported the violent acts against them in last year's pride parade.

Some have brought up the issue of cultural norms - and while that is something worth considering, I think it's also important that we not allow this kind of bigotry to be accepted on an international stage. What does it say to us in the LGBT community if everyone were to throw their hands up, shrug their shoulders and pass it off as "a different culture?"

I'll tell you what that says - it says "No, you aren't important here."

Others have suggested that Iveri will be "martyred" for the cause in her native Georgia - but getting sacked from a job isn't the same as being killed for your beliefs.

Maybe you could ask the LGBT community about what it's like to be beaten and killed for being who you are. They might know.