WHAT WAS CLAIMED
Facebook posts are reporting on Australian public figures taking a stance against Pride Month.
OUR VERDICT
False. The quotes and events in the posts are fabricated.
AAP FACTCHECK - Foreign-run Facebook pages are pumping out fake stories that claim Australian public figures are taking a stance against Pride Month.
The posts are being shared by disinformation pages operated from Vietnam that routinely target Australians with fabricated news and AI-generated images.
Pride Month is an annual event held in June to celebrate LGBTQI people and their history.
One post claims Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart "spoke out" about Pride Month and publicly criticised Sophie Allouache, the wife of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong.
"WHY DO WE HAVE AN ENTIRE PRIDE MONTH FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE EQUAL LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, WHILE MOTHER'S DAY AND FATHER'S DAY ONLY GET ONE DAY?" the post claims Mrs Rinehart said.
The claim is false. There is no record of Mrs Rinehart issuing this statement about Pride Month or having a public altercation with Ms Allouache.
The image of Ms Allouache surrounded by microphones is AI-generated.
The altered image appears to be based on a photo of Ms Allouache at her 2024 wedding, which was originally posted on Senator Wong's Instagram.
Another post claims Sunrise host Natalie Barr made "controversial remarks related to Pride Month" on morning TV.
"I will never support LGBT, and promoting it negatively affects Australia's future younger generations," the post claims Ms Barr said.
However, this is false. There is no record of Ms Barr making these remarks on air, nor has it been reported by credible news organisations.
There has been no "intense debate across Australia" about her comments either, despite what the post claimed.
A different post claims Canterbury Bulldogs NRL player Matt Burton proposed the "permanent removal of LGBT Pride Month" in favour of an event honouring veterans.
However, there is no evidence Burton ever made such a statement.
The post includes a link to a website strewn with ads and more disinformation.
The claim appears to follow a similar click-bait template used by disinformation pages accusing NRL players of expressing anti-LGBTQI beliefs.
AAP FactCheck previously debunked similar false claims involving AFL players from the Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions.
Other posts have fabricated public feuds between high-profile figures over their supposed support for Pride Month.
One post claimed One Nation leader Pauline Hanson "spoke out fiercely in defense of the LGBTQ+ community" after Ms Barr criticised Pride Month.
This is false. There is no public record or credible media report of Senator Hanson exchanging these words with Ms Barr or issuing a statement defending Pride Month.
The main image has also been digitally manipulated. Senator Hanson is shown holding a rainbow LGBTQI "YES" flag, seemingly in reference to the 2017 marriage equality campaign.
However, there is no record of Senator Hanson holding a "YES" pride flag.
Parliament's Hansard records also show she opposed 2017's same-sex marriage legislation and ultimately declined to vote for the bill.
A similar fabricated post has been made about Australian actress and LGBTQI rights advocate Magda Szubanski.
The post claims Ms Szubanski spoke out against the anti-LGBTQI remarks falsely attributed to Ms Barr and called for the presenter to be banned from TV.
There is no record of Ms Szubanski making such a statement.
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