In the wake of the Orlando nightclub massacre and homophobic slurs against one of his candidates, Greens leader Richard Di Natale is worried a proposed plebiscite on same-sex marriage could unleash more gay hate.
"I'm worried about the plebiscite, I worry about what that will do in terms on unleashing some hateful views and giving legitimacy to them," Senator Di Natale told Sky News on Friday.
He also weighed into the controversy over the presence of Australian National Imams Council national president Sheikh Shady Alsuleiman to a fast-breaking dinner hosted by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at Kirribilli House in Sydney on Thursday night.
Sheikh Alsuleiman has made controversial comments about homosexuality related to the spread of disease and "evil outcomes in our society".
"It's unfortunate that someone who has the views of the sheikh, those hateful homophobic views, tainted what was otherwise would have been a positive event," Senator Di Natale said.
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Mr Turnbull has rejected the sheikh's 2013 comments as wrong and unacceptable and has urged him to recant.
"If I had been aware that he made those remarks ... he would not have been invited," he told 3AW radio in Melbourne on Friday.
Mr Turnbull said he condemns people who disrespect or denounce other groups in the community.
"What holds us together is mutual respect," he said.
Asked if Islam was a homophobic religion, Mr Turnbull said it was impossible to make a generalisation about a faith that encompasses an estimated 1.6 billion world wide.
"There are different views on different issues as there are in all religions."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten agreed the plebescite could sanction ugly views.
"We all know this plebescite is a tawdry, second-best option," he told reporters in Hobart.
He repeated Labor's policy of legalising gay marriage in its first 100 days if it wins office on July 2.
