The fine and an apology to the gay community in the pages of SX (MCV’s sister publication) will be the only way Kennett can avoid court action, gay activist Gary Burns said this week, after the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board (ADB) upheld his complaint against Kennett.

The ADB accepted that Kennett, chairperson of national anti-depression initiative beyondblue, has a case to answer over comments he made about bisexual Victorian football trainer Ken Campagnolo, in which he compared homosexuality to paedophilia.

The decision means the case will now go to court, unless Kennett settles to Burns’ satisfaction beforehand.

“I expect that he will settle before it hits court,” Burns told MCV, “because firstly, he won’t want the negative publicity and secondly, he will lose.

“But I will take the case all the way if he doesn’t.”

Burns said he would require a minimum of $20,000 for any settlement and an apology in the pages of SX, and that all monies received would be donated to queer youth charity Twenty10.

Burns, who successfully sued radio presenters John Laws and Steve Price this year for ridiculing gay men, said this case was “much more serious” as Kennett had “not just ridiculed gay men, but incited hatred”.

Kennett did not return calls from MCV seeking comment.

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