Comment permalink

The owner told them that would not be possible because same-sex marriage went against her beliefs...
Contributors in August revealed White Magazine wasn't including same-sex couples but hadn't publicly disclosed it. Photo: Getty Images
An Australian bridal magazine will close after contributors revealed it was refusing to feature same-sex weddings in a decision which caused controversy and saw advertisers withdraw their sponsorship.

A farewell note published on White Magazine's website on Saturday said they'd recently experienced "a flood of judgement" and lost a number of advertisers.

"We have had to recognise the reality that White Magazine is no longer economically viable," the publishers said.

The 12-year-old magazine, its team and advertisers had been targeted by a campaign, and couples featured in its pages had been the subject of online abuse, the post said.

Contributors in August revealed White Magazine wasn't including same-sex couples but hadn't publicly disclosed it.

Wedding photographer Lara Hotz, who is in a same-sex marriage, said at the time that she felt discriminated against and undervalued.

She wanted the magazine to be open about its position so people knew before buying it or advertising, while advertiser and eco-wedding expert Sandra Henri challenged the publication to have a trial period of diversity.

Another advertiser, photographer Ona Janzen, told AAP it didn't feel right that a same-sex couple could subscribe to White without knowing its stance.

The magazine's farewell post on Saturday said that while it was a secular publication, its publishers were Christians who had "no agenda but to love".

Since last year's plebiscite on same-sex marriage, they'd been repeatedly asked why their magazine didn't feature all couples, and like many people they'd had to reflect on their beliefs.

They said some people had "demanded that we pick a side" instead of "allowing us the space to work through our thoughts and feelings" or being willing to engage in "brave conversations".

Comments

shame / all they did was have an opinion / but we cant have our own theses days/ we are told what/and how to think/