CALGARY -- The anti-gay letter published by a Concerned Christian Coalition representative did not violate Alberta's human-rights legislation, a judge ruled yesterday.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Earl Wilson said Rev. Stephen Boissoin's letter may have been "bewildering, puerile, nonsensical and insulting," but it wasn't unlawful.

"The language does not go so far as to fall within the prohibited status of 'hate' or 'contempt,'" Wilson wrote in his decision.

Wilson overturned an earlier ruling of an Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission panel which held Boissoin's June 17, 2002, letter in the Red Deer Advocate was likely to expose gays to hatred or contempt.

The judge said there was nothing in the letter to suggest it was exhorting Albertans to discriminate against homosexuals in areas which fall under provincial jurisdiction.

"The letter's target audience are people that (Boissoin) believes are apathetic to the inroads made by the 'homosexual machine,' " Wilson said.

"Inferring some sort of call for discriminatory practices prohibited by provincial law is an unreasonable interpretation of the letter's message."