The Greens have reversed their decision to preference the conservative Christian Democrats before the Liberals in the seat of Sydney, a decision that put a gay Indigenous candidate last on their how-to-vote cards.

They will now put the Christian Democrats last and the Liberals second last. The decision comes after the party endured days of criticism for its original preference.

The Christian Democrats are led in New South Wales by Fred Nile, who has argued that homosexuality is a recognised “mental disorder” in submissions to that state’s parliament on same-sex marriage.

Nile has also argued same-sex marriage would lead to “a push to affirm (through marriage) child brides, bigamous and polygamous partners”.

The Greens candidate for Sydney, Sylvie Ellsmore, told Guardian Australia the party was responding to community concern.

“People’s reactions to politicians like Fred Nile, George Christensen and Cory Bernardi are very personal, and the Greens respect that,” she said. “We have listened to the community and our members. We respect their feelings and their views, and our local groups this morning changed the decision we made five days ago.

“While many people generally understand why we put the Liberals last, there are many people in the community who have particularly strong negative feelings about Fred Nile and the Christian Democratic party.

Geoffrey Winters is contesting the seat for the Liberals, which is held by Labor’s deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek.

Winters is a 27-year-old lawyer and gay Indigenous man, who supports marriage equality and Indigenous constitutional recognition.

The Greens had originally decided to preference the CDP ahead of Winters because the CDP was “hardly campaigning in the seat” and the Greens “didn’t want to give them more oxygen”. It said the contest was between the Greens, Labor and the Liberals.

“If there was any chance the Christian Democrats could get up we’d never do it,” Ellsmore said on Tuesday. “It’s much easier to say put the Liberals last, that’s a clear message.”

Winters said the Greens’ original preference decision had been “surprising and disappointing” because it demonstrated that a party that had historically held itself above the argy bargy of party politics had “slipped into being a humdrum political machine that has lost its way”.

On Thursday Ellsmore highlighted Nile’s long-standing conservative views.

“The views of Fred Nile’s CDP on gender diversity, sexual equality, human rights and many other issues have infected NSW politics for decades,” she said.

“The right wings of the Liberal and Labor parties have used Fred Nile as cover for failing to act on issues such as marriage equality and abortion law reform.

“The Liberal party is preferencing the CDP 2 and Family First 3 in the Senate in NSW. If the CDP get elected anywhere it will be because of the Liberals. Full stop.”

She said local Greens groups had originally put the Liberals last because they understood that if people followed their how-to-vote card not a single vote would get to the Liberals or the CDP.

“If we had our way we wouldn’t recommend preferencing either party – but to make your vote count in the House of Representatives you need to number every box on the ballot form,” Ellsmore said.