The woman who was fired over an ‘it’s OK to vote no’ post regarding same-sex marriage has broken her silence, calling her dismissal ‘unfair’.
Madeline, who has not revealed her surname, told triple J’s Hack that while she believes ‘everyone should have equality’ she could not vote yes based on her religious views.
The 18-year-old was let go from Canberra businesswoman Madlin Sims’ children’s party business this month, after her profile photo was updated with a Coalition for Marriage filter.
Madeline (pictured), the woman who was fired over an ‘it’s OK to vote no’ post regarding same-sex marriage has broken her silence, calling her dismissal ‘unfair’
The 18-year-old was let go from work at a children’s party business after updating her profile photo on Facebook with a Coalition for Marriage filter (pictured)
Ms Sims messaged Madeline after being made aware of the post, writing that the profile photo ‘really bothered me’.
She took to Facebook on Sunday to announce she had sacked the contractor, saying she had a responsibility to protect the vulnerable people they work with.
‘Voting no is homophobic. Advertising your homophobia is hate speech. As a business owner I can’t have somebody who publicly represents my business posting hate speech online,’ Ms Sims wrote.
Defending her decision to vote no on Triple J, Madeline said she was a Christian with gay friends and family, but that her religion played a strong part in her choice.
‘I have been raised a Christian my whole life and in the bible God clearly states that a man and a man, and a woman and a woman, are not to be together,’ she said.
‘I love everyone, I’m not a hateful person at all and I do believe everyone should have equality, but to vote yes to me is something I can’t do.’
The business was owned by Madlin Sims’ (pictured) who said she fired her over ‘homophobic’ views
Ms Sims messaged Madeline after being made aware of the post, writing that the profile photo ‘really bothered me’ (pictured left)
Madeline disagreed with this view, saying she did not believe her job should be taken away over her opinion, on The Bolt Report Tuesday
Speaking on The Bolt Report Tuesday, she added that she did not believe her job should be taken away over her opinion.
‘This is a democracy and we were given the options and asked as Australians to vote yes or no and it is my opinion to vote no,’ she said.
‘I don’t think that my job should be taken away from me just because I have an opinion that someone disagrees with. I don’t think I should have been fired.’
Madeline told The Australian she was following her Christian upbringing and that she had not discriminated against anyone.
‘When it comes to tolerance, I find that people who are religious, we have to tolerate everything and anything thrown at us,’ she said. ‘But other peple don’t have to tolerate Christians.’
Ms Sims post has since sparked a huge uproar among voters, with a lengthy follow-message – since deleted by Facebook – defending her actions.
‘This contractor being let go… was not because I oppose her views on marriage equality,’ she claimed.
Ms Sims (pictured) had taken to Facebook to announce she had sacked the contractor on Sunday, saying she was hoping to protect the vulnerable people they work with
In the lengthy Facebook post she wrote that she could not have someone representing ‘hate speech’ be part of the business
‘She was let go because her actions showed she is extremely out and proud about her views on homosexuals.
‘We have gay staff members. We entertain at parties where the children of gay parents attend. We entertain at parties where gay children attend. This. Woman. Was. A. Risk.’
Following the interview Ms Sims took to Facebook again, stating it would be the last she would discuss the matter.
‘That’s not the issue I care about and it’s distracting from the real one,’ she wrote.
She added that she was happy Madeline had also voiced her opinions and over her decision to ‘risk my business and my integrity’ in her actions.
The ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns are currently canvassing the country for votes after ballots were posted out
Following the interview Ms Sims took to Facebook again, stating it would be the last she would discuss the matter hoping not to ‘distract from the real one’