Low-rating Radio Pacific afternoon host Mark Bennett has declared his surprise at not receiving any calls on his show from the gay and lesbian community over two days worth of homophobic abuse he delivered on his show last week, in which he suggested that a LGBT police liaison in Waikato be joined by a cop for paedophiles, and that heterosexuals were being disadvantaged by the "age of the gay and lesbian". Bennett was also furious over GayNZ.com's coverage of his broadcast, which included an excerpt from rival top-rating Newstalk ZB's general manager Bill Francis's book on talk radio. Bennett dismissed Francis as a "failed sports announcer” and referred to users of this website who had posted criticisms of him as “manipulators”. "I'm still waiting, where are you? Oh aggressive gay and lesbian community, inundate me with complaints...In the meantime all I can believe is you've now decided that it's easier to hide behind an anonymous computer and simply ditch about my comments," said Bennett on Thursday afternoon. "I have not got a public opinion on Mark," said Mr Francis in response to questions over the conduct of talk hosts. "Hosts at Newstalk ZB develop their issues through research and come to their opinions based on the facts as they see them," he added later.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Monday, 20th October 2003 - 12:00pm