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AUS: Broadcast law accepts "pillow biter"

Fri 2 Mar 2007 In: International News

A complaint made by a gay rights activist after broadcaster John Laws called a gay TV personality a "pillow biter" has been dismissed in the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal. In 2004, Laws called Carson Kressley, the star of Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, a "pillow biter" and "pompous little pansy prig". Laws said his comments were supposed to be funny and tongue-in-cheek. However, gay rights activist Gary Burns filed a complaint with the tribunal, saying Laws's comments promoted homosexual men as dirty and perverted. But in a decision in the tribunal today, a panel of judges dismissed the complaint. They are yet to rule on who should pay costs. Outside the tribunal, Mr Burns said he was disappointed by the decision. "I took this action because I believe it's important to stand up and erase hate in society," he said. "It's about standing up against bullies. I didn't win on this occasion, but I will continue in my mission to dissuade hate in society." In a further shot at Laws, Mr Burns said the broadcaster's "souffle went poof ten years ago". Laws was on air on Southern Cross Broadcasting this morning, and was not present for the decision. General counsel for Southern Cross Broadcasting, Adam Olding, said the radio network was pleased with the decision. "The result is what we had hoped for, and what we were confident we would get," he said. "But we're still digesting the judgement. There is nothing more we can say at this stage."     Ref: Sydney Morning Herald (m)

Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff

First published: Friday, 2nd March 2007 - 12:00pm

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