A leading Australian wedding magazine has announced it is closing with the Christian publishers saying they were forced to shut down after they, advertisers and people featured in the publication were subjected to a “campaign” over their decision not to feature same-sex couples.
Newcastle-based couple Luke and Carla Burrell made the announcement in a post on the website of White Magazine on the weekend, saying that they’d experienced a “flood of judgement” over the lack of same-sex couples featured in the magazine.
“Instead of allowing us the space to work through our thoughts and feelings, or being willing to engage in brave conversations to really hear each other’s stories, some have just blindly demanded that we pick a side,” they wrote.
“We’re not about sides, we’re about love, patience and kindness. A campaign was launched targeting the magazine, our team and our advertisers. Couples who have featured in our magazine have also been the subject of online abuse despite their individual beliefs. We’re really saddened by this.”
The Burrells said that as a result of the campaign “a number of advertisers withdrew their sponsorship out of fear of being judged, or in protest”. “We have had to recognise the reality that White Magazine is no longer economically viable.”
They said that while the publication was secular, they were Christians and had no agenda “but to love”.
One former contributor Lara Hotz, who has reportedly photographed a number of covers for the magazine, told the ABC’s Hack website in August that she was “extremely hurt” over the magazine’s decision not to feature same-sex couples.
Australia legalised same-sex marriages late last year.
