Australian Politician Apologizes for Insulting Lesbian Colleague

Tom Kenyon, the South Australian minister for recreation and sport, said he was sorry for saying that federal minister Penny Wong should not be allowed to marry her pregnant partner because the baby is not biologically hers.

Kenyon made the remark in an interview with ABC Radio Wednesday. Although he and Wong both belong to the Australian Labor Party, Kenyon, a Catholic, strongly opposes marriage equality. The ruling party is currently wrestling with an intense debate about the issue ahead of its national conference in December.

“I don't want to be rude to Penny, but it's not her baby, do you know what I mean? It's not, biologically, it's not, it's not the biological product of two people,” said Kenyon, according to The Australian.

Kenyon, who plans to vote against putting marriage equality into the party’s platform, later issued a statement saying he meant no disrespect to Wong, who serves as a senator and federal finance minister.

“I apologize if those comments offended them in any way,” he said.