Gay pamphlet offensive: tribunal

A Tasmanian man has been ordered to publicly apologise for distributing a discriminatory pamphlet which says homosexuality should not be tolerated.

The brochure, titled Homosexuality Stats, suggested that gay men and lesbians died younger than heterosexuals through causes including AIDS, suicide, murder and traffic accidents.

"Scripture rejects homosexuality as utterly abominable," the booklet read.

The pamphlet was delivered to more than 3000 homes in suburban Hobart in 2013.

A complaint was lodged with Tasmania's Anti-Discrimination Tribunal claiming the material contained false, offensive and hateful material.

James Durston was subsequently found to be responsible for publishing and sending the pamphlet.

He made no submissions to the tribunal in his defence, but stated he had not broken the law and was exercising his right to freedom of religion.

In a decision handed down on Tuesday, the tribunal found Durston's conduct humiliated, insulted and ridiculed homosexuals on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Durston has been ordered to make a public apology and retraction by way of public notice in a newspaper, acknowledging the pamphlet was discriminatory.

Failure to do so will incur a fine.

Durston has also been ordered not to repeat the conduct.