J-AIR (Jewish Australian Internet Radio), a Melbourne-based community radio station will educate its presenters on vilification laws following an outcry over comments on one of its shows that vilified the gay community. A J-AIR complaints committee found that the comments made on a popular show were “contrary to Australian law”.
The offending comments were made by Rabbi Mendel Kessin on The Tamar Yonah Show that was broadcast and podcast by J-AIR on March 30, 2020. Rabbi Kessin targeted the LGBTQI community by claiming that the COVID-19 “pandemic is an exact designer drug … that will remove … problems … in the form of homosexuality and gays”.
The radio station has since apologised for the comments. An apology was posted on the radio station’s website as well as broadcast for several days after the original offending broadcast.