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Activist to appeal case against NRL Footy Show

Gay rights advocate Gary Burns will appeal a case dismissed against the NRL Footy Show this week.

Gay rights advocate Gary Burns will appeal a case dismissed against the NRL Footy Show before the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal this week.

The 2009 skit featured a fictitious gay brother of NRL siblings Andrew and Matthew Johns, called ‘Elton Johns’.

“I want to return this,” said Johns’ father Gary in the skit. “It’s faulty.”

Last November Burns lost his vilification complaint against the NRL Footy Show.

The Administrative Decisions Tribunal found that while the skit was tasteless, offensive and unfortunate it was not capable of inciting hatred or severe contempt or serious ridicule of homosexuals.

A separate complaint against Eddie McGuire over comments during the Winter Olympics was successfully mediated between both parties.

The appeal will be heard on Friday.

13 Responses

  1. I am not representing the homosexual community of Australia.
    I am not the Prime Minister for all things homosexual in Australia.
    I am standing up and fighting for something that I believe in.
    If this skit portrayed a Jewish kid as “faulty” and not being to play sport because he was Jewish would it of gotten to air ?
    I doubt it.
    Gary Burns is a homophobe. (he played the father in this vilifying skit).
    I will get up on this appeal.
    Ch 9 will than settle rather than risking the merits being reheard again for fear of losing.
    Watch this space folks.

  2. Sorry but if an Aboriginal or Asian kid was described as “faulty” and a “black sheep” on The Footy Show, there would be hell to pay. It would probably be the end of the show. Why is it still OK to say these things about gay people? Good on Gary Burns.

  3. Elton Johns a terrible Rugby player? He might even be a terrible League player too considering it was the League Footy show and nothing to do with Rugby.

    Rugby Union – the game called “rugby” for the 50 years before “League” was even invented, and still referred to as just “Rugby”.

    Rugby League – referred to as one of the rugby codes but never called just “Rugby” (unless you’re Victorian!)

  4. lol Dr Heckle. As for Gary Burns, as a queer person i feel embarrassed by him in case people somehow think hes some sort of gay ambassador. If he’s so offended by gay jokes on the Footy Show, perhaps he could do what i do and not watch it! Having said that any public humour that incites hatred against a minority should not be allowed but this clearly is nowhere near it.

  5. Maybe Rugby League players should just stick to what they do best??? I’m pretty sure there are plenty of dogs and hotel cleaners who wouldn’t mind seeing these morons taken out of the public eye for good.

    Absolutely disgraceful human beings.

  6. This guy takes things to heart way too much. It was a joke and if he is going to take offence to every gay joke or skit in a program, then he’ll spend more time in court than he does in bed. I hope people realise that he doesn’t represent the whole gay community, because most people I know love a good gay joke or skit, and can laugh at themselves.

  7. An activist taking issue to something? Shock horror. Just because it’s poor taste doesn’t make it discriminatory. Perhaps Elton Johns is a terrible Rugby Player?

    Or perhaps he doesn’t have issues with the media and behaving like an adult 😉

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