Watch The Ad That Has Angered The Internet

The Australian Marriage Forum has attracted heavy criticism after its ad campaign attacking same-sex marriage was aired during the country’s biggest gay pride festival.

Executives at TV channels 7 and 9 have also come under fire after showing the controversial commercial during the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras weekend.

The ad asked its viewers: “You hear about marriage equality a lot, but what about equality for kids?”

Anti-gay Christian activist Dr David van Gend also adds in the ad: “Childen have an equal right wherever possible to both a mum and dad. So-called marriage equality forces a child to miss out on a father. That’s not equality for the kids who miss out, that’s not marriage.”

The timing of the ad has led to an angry backlash online, with gay rights groups accusing the Australian Marriage Forum of deliberately trying to stir up trouble during what should be a time for celebration for the community.

As well as a storm of protest online, the ad has so far attracted almost 300,000 views on YouTube. We expect that figure to rise in the coming days.