Israel Folau: Former Australia winger targets homosexuals and transgender children in fresh attack

During a church sermon on Sunday, Folau restated that homosexuality was a sin and claimed the devil was behind primary school children being allowed to decide if they wanted to change gender

Former Australia winger Israel Folau has launched another discriminative attack on gay people while also targeting transgender children, saying gender fluidity is the work of the “devil”.

Folau, who was last month sacked by Rugby Australia for posting on social media that “hell awaits” for “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolaters”, reiterated his views during a sermon at his Sydney church on Sunday.

A devout Christian, he restated that homosexuality was a sin and claimed the devil was behind primary school children being allowed to decide if they wanted to change gender.

“In today’s youths and everything, they are allowing young kids in primary school to be able to have the permission to change their gender if they want by taking away the permission of the parents,” Folau said.

“Now they are trying to take control as a government to make those decisions for young kids who are basically 16 years old or young, they don’t even know what they are doing.”

“This is what the devil is trying to do. To instil into this government, into this world, into society, and it is slowly happening.”

He continued: “They say that a man and a man should be able to be married and there is nothing wrong with it. This buys into the theme of pleasing man rather than pleasing God and standing up for the truth.”

Folau also levelled accusations against the Christian church for allowing gender fluidity and homosexuality to continue under their watch, saying that pastors and religious leaders were to eager to please and “climb the ladder”.

Folau earlier this month launched legal action against Rugby Australia and club side the Waratahs after his playing contracts were terminated in light of his initial comments made on Instagram on 10 April.

Legal representatives for the player confirmed on 6 June that they had filed an application to the Australian Fair Work Commission and are seeking a declaration that his employment was unlawfully terminated because of his religion.

Folau, who also played rugby league for the Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos before switching codes, said: “No Australian of any faith should be fired for practising their religion.”