Man fined $25,000 for “tirade of homophobic abuse and threats”

Australian Nick Bouvy has been ordered to pay $25,000 after hating on a marriage celebrant in a series of phone calls, reports news.com.au.

Bouvy had been angry with Peter Power-Lawrence, a marriage celebrant in the Australian island state of Tasmania, over his alleged refusal to officiate Bouvy’s wedding because he was a former drug addict.

Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Tribunal found that Bouvy had rang Power-Lawrence at least 18 times. “On each occasion, he left messages that were offensive and humiliating and used abominable and disgusting language,” said tribunal member Steven Bishop.

In what has been dubbed a landmark ruling, Power-Lawrence will now be the recipient of Tasmania’s largest payout for discrimination after being subjected to “a tirade of homophobic abuse and threats”.

The payout was lauded by Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome, who said “this kind of harassment can be devastating because it leaves victims feeling unsafe and powerless”.

“The only way to bring anti-gay harassment to an end is for it to be reported and for heavy penalties to apply,” said Croome. “Traditionally, anti-discrimination law has not dealt well with this kind of harassment but Tasmania is fortunate to have a very strong Anti-Discrimination Act.”