A LABOR senator and marriage equality advocates have taken aim at Sydney's Anglican archbishop, describing as offensive his comments about the health risks of homosexuality.

As a guest of the ABC's Q&A program last night, Dr Jensen told viewers he supported the Australian Christian Lobby's view first expressed by its leader Jim Wallace.



Dr Jensen said: "I am generally supportive of ACL."



But while he did not agree with everything the Lobby stood for he said that the comments made by Mr Wallace gave "us an opportunity to talk about something significant, namely the question of health risk".



Mr Wallace made the comments in a debate last week where he compared smoking to same-sex marriage.



His insensitive comments forced Prime Minster Julia Gillard to pull out of an appearance she was due to make at a function for the ACL.

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"It's very hard to get to the facts here because we don't want to talk about it and in this country censorship is alive and well," he said.



"As far as I can see … the lifespan of practising gays is significantly shorter than the ordinary so-called heterosexual man … what we need to do is to look at why this may be the case and we need to do it in a compassionate and objective way."

Federal Labor backbencher Trish Crossin told reporters in Canberra today the remarks were offensive.

"Particularly for people who have smoked, who have developed cancer as a result of that, and (for) loved ones who have lost families,'' she said.

Senator Crossin is the co-sponsor of a private bill to legalise same-sex marriage, which could be voted on next week.

"What we want to do is force the coalition to have a conscience vote on this, like they do with every other piece of legislation,'' she said.

Marriage equality advocates called on Dr Jensen to apologise for his ``cruel'' comments on homosexuality.

Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said he would write to Dr Jensen highlighting the damage his comments will cause and seeking an apology.

"Although we have come to expect extreme anti-gay statement from the Australian Christian Lobby, for a religious leader like Archbishop Jensen to make such cruel claims is a betrayal of his duty of care to his parishioners, especially those who are gay or have gay friends and family members,'' Mr Greenwich said in a statement.



Dr Jensen's comments sparked debate across Twitter, with viewers who disagreed and said his views were ignorant.

Originally published as Gays 'don't live long' bishop under fire