Australian presenter sorry for remarks on �disgusting� Mardi Gras marchers

An Australian TV presenter has apologised for remarks he made about Sydney�s Mardi Gras festival.

Ron Wilson, a presenter for Channel Ten, was interviewing festival co-chair Peter Urmson on Monday.

Wilson said on the show: �On the night there some of the spectacles you�re seeing I�m assuming would even make you cringe. It becomes an exploitation almost of a sexual image rather than trying to explore the diversity of lifestyle.�

Urmson interjected, saying the parade was colourful.

But Wilson replied: �With respect, there�s a difference between colourful and disgusting in some cases�. [some people] really do seem to cross the line.�

Later in the exchange, Wilson said: �There�s acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle. Why not let time take care of the gay marriage issue rather than pushing it?�

Urmson responded by saying: �Because if we don�t push for it, no one�s going to.�

After complaints, Wilson issued an apology on the next day�s broadcast, saying: �As a journalist, my job is to present an issue from different perspectives. But there is no question I could have chosen my words better. If anyone took offence at anything I said during the interview I apologise.

�I fully support the gay community and its campaign to promote the issue of gay marriage and I do congratulate the gay and lesbian community on the success of this year�s event. Please take that with sincerity.�

Urmson told reporters he accepted the apology but Australian gay rights campaigner Gary Burns has said he will lodge a complaint against Wilson at the New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Board.

�The Mardi Gras may not be everyone�s cup of tea but surely diversity on a night like this is acceptable,� Burns said.

In a statement, Channel Ten said: �Ten Morning News featured eight minutes of overwhelmingly positive coverage of Mardi Gras. Ron Wilson congratulated organisers on the success of the 2011 event.

�One small section of the interview raised a question about behaviour by some participants. The phrasing might not have been ideal, and Ten apologises if any viewers took offence.

�However, it is not unreasonable for alternative views to be put to organisers and the interview talent agreed that while he didn�t hold the view, some sections of society may.�