A mother who featured in a TV ad against legalising same-sex marriage claims she’s been trolled online by corporates executives, counsellors and even suicide centre workers.
Cella White made headlines in August as one of three women to front the ‘no’ vote ad campaign, sponsored by the Coalition for Marriage ahead of the postal vote.
The controversial TV ad saw all three women targeted online with racist taunts, death threats, images of gay porn and even pictures of suicides attempts saying they had ‘blood on their hands’.
Ms White, a mother-of-four from Frankston, in Melbourne, told Daily Mail Australia that while she expected to come under fire, she wasn’t prepared for her family to also be targets.
Cella White (pictured), one of the mothers featured in the ‘no’ vote ad campaign, has revealed the extensive abuse she has received since it went to air including threats against her family
The women have been sent gay porn and threats of sexual assault on their children (above)
Some of the abuse contains accusations that they are causing to kids to commit suicide (above)
Three women who featured in a TV ad against same-sex marriage have faced death threats, racist taunts and widespread vitriolic abuse
Ms White, who appeared in the ad with Heidi McIvor and Dr Pansy Lai, said the abuse was ‘relentless’ and had even targeted her own mother.
‘I knew it was a touchy subject so I was well aware of the backlash to likely come my way by taking part in the ad, but it’s hostile out there,’ she said.
‘If their social media accounts are genuine, some of the bullies appear to be in the corporate arena.
‘Some are counsellors, some work in disability services and probably most alarming of all, some work in suicide crisis centres.’
Ms White said the abuse would not deter her in any way from voicing her opinion on same-sex marriage.
Ms White decided to break her silence on the abuse after Daily Mail Australia revealed the extent of the abuse sent to the mothers after they featured in the campaign.
‘I hope your little son turns out gay. I’ll wait 18 years then f** him,’ one vile comment said.
‘I’ll skin you alive h*e. I hope you get cancer and die painfully and your kids are left in a gay couple’s care,’ said another.
The three women fronted the controversial TV ad which was funded by the Coalition for Marriage
Among the shocking messages (pictured) sent to the women by trolls were images of gay porn
Heidi McIvor (pictured with her husband Julian) received threats including that her church in the country Victorian town of Sale would be burnt to the ground
‘You’re a disgusting f**king disgrace of not only a mother, but a human being,’ said one man.
‘F**k you and f**k your spastic kids,’ one wrote, while another said: ‘Dumb c**t’.
Among the other shocking vitriol which is too graphic to publish were images of a boy who had self-harmed, with the sender claiming the mothers had made him do it.
Lyle Shelton, the head of the Coalition for Marriage, said he had warned the mothers they would come under fire for the ad but never expected such vile backlash.
Mrs McIvor (pictured) was one of the women featured in the Coalition for Marriage’s TV ad
‘We tried to prepare them for it, we warned them and we did everything we could to protect them, they were demonised by the ‘yes’ campaign,’ Mr Shelton said.
‘Someone threatened to burn down Heidi’s church, Cella was called a liar, and Dr Lai had her registration threatened by a GetUp! powered petition.’
While acknowledging that there was widespread trolling from both sides, Mr Shelton claimed most of the vitriolic abuse came from the ‘yes’ supporters.
Vile messages include warnings to ‘curse’ their family (above)