Gun lobbyist Ron Owen ordered to pay lesbians over sticker

by Glenis Green
Courier Mail, Australia

GYMPIE gun lobbyist and former councillor Ron Owen has been ordered to pay a group of lesbians $12,500 in an Anti-Discrimination Tribunal decision.

He has been told he must also also issue a public statement acknowledging he offended the town's homosexual community.

The tribunal ruled he is entitled to express his homophobic views, but he went too far with the bumper sticker: "Gay Rights? Under God's law the only rights gays have is the right to die."

Mr Owen was also ordered to publish a statement in the Gympie Times within 45 days stating that the tribunal had found he contravened the Anti-Discrimination Act by displaying a bumper sticker on a vehicle, publishing a report to the Cooloola Shire Council, making a comment in an interview broadcast on television and publishing a letter on a website - all of which incited hatred, serious contempt for or severe ridicule of homosexuals.

He also has to acknowledge his conduct was unlawful.

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