Gays blamed for earthquake

Christchurch Quake, which is registered to an address in Utah in the United States, claims the destruction could have been the result of ''lesbians running loose on the South Island as if they own the place''.

Child prostitution and Gay Ski Week are also put forward as possible causes of the disaster on the website.

It suggests last year’s earthquake was a warning from God which the people of Canterbury did not heed.

Jay Bennie, who runs the Auckland-based gay and lesbian website GayNz.com, told an Australian newspaper that the people of Christchurch were already under enough stress without reading such outrageous comments.

‘‘I think it’s despicable, I think it’s appallingly insensitive, not only to gays and lesbians but to the suggestion that the people of Christchurch, by embracing gays and lesbians to certain degrees in their society, have brought this upon themselves.

“It’s cruel and vindictive in the city’s hour of need. We are pretty disgusted about it and find it hard to understand how humane people could do this sort of thing,” he said.

“I would ask them to consider the lives of people in Christchurch and not use tragedy as a further opportunity to stir up hatred against gay and lesbian people.”

Mr Bennie said he believed religious conservatives were responsible for the website.

Call 0800 RED CROSS (0800 733 276) to find out whereabouts of friends and family.

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