Gary Burns (Australia)
Encyclopedia
Gary Burns is a controversial Australian anti-discrimination campaigner and serial litigant, focusing on homosexual vilification lawsuits.
He typically undertakes actions independent of established GLBTI advocacy networks, and while admired by some for his unabashed commitment, he has drawn significant criticism from GLBTI activists who claim the views he expresses are unpopular, offensive or not representative of the views of the GLBTI community.
He successfully tested the homosexual vilification provisions of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977
with a complaint of personal homosexual vilification against broadcaster John Laws
and Sydney
radio station 2UE
that concluded in his favour in 2002.
Burns went on to front public interest cases against high profile figures and media establishments for unlawful homosexual vilification.
Burns caused controversy in November 2006 when he suggested members of the gay community should support a campaign by the Rev. Fred Nile
and the Christian Democratic Party
to raise the age of consent to 18 in the State of New South Wales
following the Milton Orkopoulos
scandal. A higher age of consent for homosexual sex had been equalised by the Parliament of New South Wales
only three years before. Nile and his party had consistently sought to block or remove gay rights reforms in the Parliament.
In November 2007, during the lead up to that year's federal election, Burns endorsed the Australian Labor Party
and volunteered for its candidate for the seat of Wentworth, George Newhouse
. After publicly verballing Lucy Turnbull
, a former Lord Mayor of Sydney and wife of the incumbent Liberal candidate, Malcolm Turnbull
, Burns was dumped from the campaign and an apology issued by Newhouse.
In 2009, Burns initiated action against Jeff Kennett
, a former Premier of Victoria, now President of the Hawthorn Football Club
and Chair of the national depression initiative Beyondblue
. Kennett made comments in 2008 which appeared to equate homosexuality
with pedophilia
in reference to the sacking of a bisexual sports trainer, Ken Campagnolo, by the Bonnie Doon Football Club. A conciliation hearing was held in NSW, with Kennett refusing meet Burns' key demands: that he apologise publicly to the gay community and donate a sum of money to a nominated GLBT youth charity, Twenty10.
In 2010, Burns took action against Channel Nine
over a skit broadcast on The Footy Show which he claimed incited violence against homosexuals. On 10 November 2010, the Administrative Decisions Tribunal
dismissed the complaint, finding that while the skit was "tasteless, offensive and unfortunate," it was "not capable of inciting hatred, or severe contempt or serious ridicule of homosexual men or of the Applicant [Burns]." An appeal by Burns against the decision was also dismissed on 20 May 2011.
He typically undertakes actions independent of established GLBTI advocacy networks, and while admired by some for his unabashed commitment, he has drawn significant criticism from GLBTI activists who claim the views he expresses are unpopular, offensive or not representative of the views of the GLBTI community.
He successfully tested the homosexual vilification provisions of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977
Anti-Discrimination Act 1977
The Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 is an Act of the NSW Parliament, relating to discrimination in employment, the public education system, delivery of goods and services, and other services such as banking, health care, property and night clubs....
with a complaint of personal homosexual vilification against broadcaster John Laws
John Laws
Richard John Sinclair "John" Laws, CBE , an Australian radio presenter, sometimes known as Lawsie, was from the 1970s until his retirement in 2007, the host of a hugely successful morning radio program, which mixed music with interviews, opinion, live advertising readings and listener talkback...
and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
radio station 2UE
2UE
2UE is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia owned by Fairfax Media. It is Sydney's and Australia's oldest commercial radio station, first broadcasting on 26 January 1925 on 1025 kHz AM before moving to 950 kHz in 1935 when virtually all Australian radio stations were assigned new...
that concluded in his favour in 2002.
Burns went on to front public interest cases against high profile figures and media establishments for unlawful homosexual vilification.
Burns caused controversy in November 2006 when he suggested members of the gay community should support a campaign by the Rev. Fred Nile
Fred Nile
Frederick John "Fred" Nile is an Australian politician and clergyman. Nile has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 1981, except for a period in 2004 when he resigned to contest the Australian Senate at the 2004 federal election...
and the Christian Democratic Party
Christian Democratic Party (Australia)
The Christian Democratic Party is a right-wing political party in Australia. Its leader is Fred Nile, a Congregational Church minister and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.-Formation:...
to raise the age of consent to 18 in the State of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
following the Milton Orkopoulos
Milton Orkopoulos
Milton Orkopoulos is a former Australian Labor Party politician, and convicted criminal. A member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1999, Orkopoulos was appointed Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship in August 2005.In November 2006, New...
scandal. A higher age of consent for homosexual sex had been equalised by the Parliament of New South Wales
Parliament of New South Wales
The Parliament of New South Wales, located in Parliament House on Macquarie Street, Sydney, is the main legislative body in the Australian state of New South Wales . It is a bicameral parliament elected by the people of the state in general elections. The parliament shares law making powers with...
only three years before. Nile and his party had consistently sought to block or remove gay rights reforms in the Parliament.
In November 2007, during the lead up to that year's federal election, Burns endorsed the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
and volunteered for its candidate for the seat of Wentworth, George Newhouse
George Newhouse
George Newhouse is an Australian human rights lawyer, a former local councillor and political activist. He was Mayor of Waverley in the eastern suburbs of Sydney from 2006 to 2007, and the Australian Labor Party candidate for the seat of Wentworth at the 2007 Australian federal election...
. After publicly verballing Lucy Turnbull
Lucy Turnbull
Lucinda Mary "Lucy" Turnbull, née Hughes AO , a former Australian politician and former Lord Mayor of Sydney, is a prominent Australian business leader and company director. Turnbull was the first female Lord Mayor of Sydney, between 2003 and 2004 and was Deputy Lord Mayor, between 1999 and 2003...
, a former Lord Mayor of Sydney and wife of the incumbent Liberal candidate, Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2004, and was Leader of the Opposition and parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party from 16 September 2008 to 1 December 2009.Turnbull has represented the Division...
, Burns was dumped from the campaign and an apology issued by Newhouse.
In 2009, Burns initiated action against Jeff Kennett
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
, a former Premier of Victoria, now President of the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
and Chair of the national depression initiative Beyondblue
Beyondblue
beyondblue is an Australian non-profit organisation which aims to increase awareness and improve the treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and related mental disorders...
. Kennett made comments in 2008 which appeared to equate homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
with pedophilia
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
in reference to the sacking of a bisexual sports trainer, Ken Campagnolo, by the Bonnie Doon Football Club. A conciliation hearing was held in NSW, with Kennett refusing meet Burns' key demands: that he apologise publicly to the gay community and donate a sum of money to a nominated GLBT youth charity, Twenty10.
In 2010, Burns took action against Channel Nine
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
over a skit broadcast on The Footy Show which he claimed incited violence against homosexuals. On 10 November 2010, the Administrative Decisions Tribunal
Administrative Decisions Tribunal of New South Wales
The Administrative Decisions Tribunal of New South Wales is responsible for reviewing decisions of some New South Wales government departments, for hearing discrimination complaints referred by the President of the New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Board, for hearing complaints about professional...
dismissed the complaint, finding that while the skit was "tasteless, offensive and unfortunate," it was "not capable of inciting hatred, or severe contempt or serious ridicule of homosexual men or of the Applicant [Burns]." An appeal by Burns against the decision was also dismissed on 20 May 2011.