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Michael Laws blasts "liberal gay" Chief Censor

Mon 16 Nov 2009 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback

RadioLive host Michael Laws has made another on-air outburst, this time criticising a decision by Chief Censor Bill Hastings, while making special mention of his sexual orientation. Another day, another gaffe: Michael Laws Laws took issue with Hastings' decision to allow violent videogame Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to be released in New Zealand. "I know the gay guy we've got at the moment who is the Chief Censor Bill Hastings is a liberal sort of guy," he declared. "I don't care if he lets gay sex through because, well, that's what he enjoys watching in a darkened room somewhere and thinks everybody else of his ilk should be able to do so as well." New Zealand's Chief Censor has previously come under fire from right-wing 'community standards' groups who believe his gay orientation means he's wrong for his job. Hastings responded to one such attack in 2007: "I'm not a moral guardian. I just apply the law… I couldn't do my job if I was on some pro-gay crusade. Those claims are always based on really hurtful stereotypes, which are totally ridiculous and false," he says. In recent months, Mayor of Wanganui Michael Laws hasn't let much time go by between statements which prompt anger against him. He was recently in trouble over an abrupt letter he wrote to students over the spelling of his town's name, and last month proposed that the country's underclass could be offered cash in return for being sterilised.    

Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff

First published: Monday, 16th November 2009 - 6:17pm

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