Website deemed 'despicable' for blaming gays for Kiwi quake

Melbourne, Feb 24 (ANI): A website, which claimed that the devastating earthquake that took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, had been triggered by the gay community, has been dubbed "despicable".

New Zealand's gay and lesbian community has denounced the site as "appalling" for claiming the earthquake was an act of God triggered by the tolerance of homosexual behaviour in the city, the Age reported.

The website Christchurch Quake suggests the destruction was a result of "lesbians running loose on the South Island as if they own the place" and general "amoral" behaviour.

Among other inflammatory accusations, the website alleges that the earlier September earthquake, which coincided with the start of Gay Ski Week in Queenstown, was a warning from God to "End the Evil - or else!"

The website claims the September earthquake warning had not been heeded, leading to Tuesday's 6.3-magnitude earthquake, which has killed at least 76 people, with reports of up to 300 still missing.

It also suggests other natural disasters in New Zealand, including the Pike River mine disaster, which killed 29 men in November, was triggered by the country's relaxed attitudes.

Jay Bennie, who runs the Auckland-based gay and lesbian website GayNz.com, said the people of Christchurch were already under enough stress without reading such outrageous comments. (ANI)