When Bumper Sticker go too Far

In Australia, a homophobic bumper sticker that read “Gay Rights? Under God law the only rights gays have is the right to die.” Gets the owner sued.

Queensland's Anti-Discrimination Tribunal found Ron Owen guilty of inciting hatred against gays with the disgusting bumper sticker when he parked his car outside some council offices in the town of Gympie.

Owen is the publisher of an ultra-right-wing pro-militia magazine called Lock Stock And Barrel and is a former local councillor.Two local lesbians took action over the bumper sticker and won damages, one $5,000 and the other $2,500.

In handing down his decision, tribunal member Darryl Rangiah ordered Owen to publish a written apology for inciting hatred and causing offence to the gays of Gympie. While Rangiah acknowledged Owen's right to free speech, he said the bumper sticker had gone to far, as well as comments made on television following the sticker furore.Rangiah said, "Ron Owen is entitled to be a homophobe and he is entitled to publicly express his homophobic views. That much is required in a society that values freedom of thought and expression. However there are limits.""The ordinary member of the public would, in my opinion, understand that he or she was being urged to hate and to have serious contempt for homosexuals," Rangiah said.