Abbott softens stance on gays (the photo is priceless)

In the pink ... Tony Abbott helped promote The McGrath Foundation Ironman event, in Manly yesterday.
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Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has admitted a "poor choice of words" when it comes to gays and lesbians.

Mr Abbott has come under fire recently for comments regarding homosexuality, saying he felt "threatened" by homosexuals and that homosexuality "challenges orthodox notions of the right order of things".

But speaking today on Joy 94.9, a Melbourne gay and lesbian radio station, Mr Abbott seemed to soften his stance, admitting that his comments were a "poor choice of words".

While he reiterated Coalition policy that marriage should remain between a man and a woman, he declared the Liberal Party's support for a federal anti-discrimination law that would include protection for gays and lesbians.

Mr Abbott said that if such legislation was before Parliament he saw "no reason why we couldn't support it".

He also said that people close to him were gay.

"I like to think that it hasn't made me love them any the less or treat them differently," he said.

More: http://www.smh.com.au/national/abbott-softens-stance-on-gays-20100325-qynr.html

The photo is priceless. I'm still grinning and giggling.