A complaint about the use of the word gay in a One News story about Australians having same-sex civil unions in New Zealand has been thrown out for being "frivolous and trivial". Leo Leitch complained to the Broadcasting Standards Authority that he felt using the word "gay" instead of "homosexual" was akin to using the words "fairy", "poofter" or "faggot", which he said "would not be tolerated for a moment". The BSA found that the term gay is widely commonly accepted and widely used in reference to homosexuals and homosexuality. "It is not a derogatory term when used in this manner, and we disagree that it is in the same realm as 'poofter' or 'faggot'," its decision reads. It says the Broadcasting Act allows it to decline to determine a complaint which it considers to be frivolous, vexatious, or trivial. "Pursuant to this section, we decline to determine Mr Leitch's complaint on the grounds that it was frivolous and trivial," it finishes.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 26th December 2011 - 3:51pm