One Nation WA candidate calls homosexuality a mental illness in viral video

A video circulated on social media shows One Nation candidate Parminder Singh, the third-placed candidate on the party’s Western Australia Legislative Council ticket, labeling gay people as having a mental illness and denouncing gay pride parades as harmful advertising to young people. Singh further suggested that women who engage in same-sex relationships will not revert to relationships with men and argued that animals are smarter because they are not gay.

The clip, uploaded by Perth comedian Jasky Singh, prompted one outlet to seek clarification from the party, after which Singh’s profile was removed from the One Nation website. Pauline Hanson, leader of One Nation, has been asked to respond. Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson, a married gay man, criticized Singh’s statements and highlighted concerns about free speech and party cohesion. One Nation’s national director James Ashby, who is also gay, was referenced in the fallout.