Madlin Sims (pictured) made headlines after firing an employee for their views against same sex marriage
A businesswoman who fired a worker after they published a ‘Vote No’ Facebook post says she ‘keeps bursting into tears’ following Wednesday’s ‘Yes’ vote.
Daily Mail Australia revealed in September that Madlin Sims, who runs party entertainment company Capital Kids Parties in the ACT, had fired a contractor following a social media post.
Today, in an emotional Facebook post, Ms Sims apologised ‘as a straight person’ for the postal survey she claimed brought out a ‘bigoted’ government and ‘revolting’ no voters.
‘You were babies who grew to be toddlers who grew to be kids who grew to be teenagers who grew to be adults who found themselves having to tick a box on a form to fight for their right to be treated equally,’ she wrote.
‘As a straight person, I apologise that your right to happiness was printed, placed in a reply-paid envelope and sent out to every Australian over the age of 18.
‘I apologise for how hurtful it must have been to see people arguing over your sexuality and human rights.’
On Tuesday, Ms Sims shared an emotional Facebook post apologising to Australia’s LGBTI community for a ‘bigoted’ government and ‘revolting’ no voters
Thousands of ‘Yes’ voters gathered in public places across the nation on Tuesday to celebrate Australia voting to change legislation to allow same sex marriage
Pictured: The emotional Facebook post shared by Madlin Sims hours after Australians voted to legalise same sex marriage
The staffer had posted a photo to Facebook with a frame around it which said ‘it’s OK to vote no’ – the slogan for campaign against same sex marriage.
The sacking sparked a huge uproar, with the official No campaign claiming her actions were proof Yes supporters wanted to punish people who disagree with them.
Ms Sims then doubled down, claiming the employee was a ‘risk’ as a result of her views, and also a ‘racist’.
In her initial announcement, Ms Sims said: ‘Today I fired a staff member who made it public knowledge that they feel ‘it’s okay to vote no’.
‘Advertising your desire to vote no for SSM is, in my eyes, hate speech. Voting no is homophobic’.
Ms Sims urged her friends to vote ‘yes’ in the upcoming same sex marriage survey and listed three justifications for her staffing decision.
‘1. It’s bad for business. 2. I don’t like s*** morals. 3. I don’t want homophobes working for me, especially in an environment with children.’
On November 15, it was revealed 61.6 per cent of Australians had voted to legislate same sex marriage, and only 34 per cent had voted against it
Ms Sims (left, right) fired an employee of her party contracting business for advocating a ‘no’ vote. Her decision made headlines around the country, and she later doubled down, stating the employee was a ‘risk’ and also ‘racist’
Ms Sims ended her emotional Facebook post on November 15 by congratulating the LGBTI community on their strength throughout history.
‘You have all been so, so strong throughout lifetimes of fighting for your rights. It is beyond admirable and you should be so proud,’ she wrote.
‘You have lost members of your community who could no longer deal with the hatred. I truly believe they are looking over you feeling just as proud as we all are of how resilient you’ve been in the face of something so painful.
‘You make this world we live in a much more colourful place and inspire even the most basic, straightest people (like me) to always be proud of who we are.
‘Thank you for being so strong and brave. You are f***ing fabulous!’
Australia voted via postal survey to legalise same sex marriage this year, with 61.6 per cent of voters advocating a change in legislation, and only 34 per cent of votes marked against the change.
Close to four fifths of eligible voters cast their ballots, with nearly eight million people voting in favour of the historic change.
Celebrations were held across the nation when the winning Yes vote was announced. The vote will see a bill to legalise same sex marriage introduced to Parliament and voted on, with all MPs given a free vote despite party policy.
Ms Sims ended her emotional Facebook post on November 15 by congratulating the LGBTI community on their strength throughout history