Iain Dale said the law will create a "legal minefield".
A prominent homosexual columnist has become the latest critic of the Government's plans for a law against incitement to 'homophobic' hatred.
Iain Dale wrote in The Daily Telegraph 
: "Being a gay man, and a social liberal, I have no hesitation in saying that I oppose anything that will further dilute our right to freedom of speech."
He continued: "Opposing this legislation is not anti-gay. Rather, it is pro freedom of speech."
"If, as is suggested by Justice Secretary Jack Straw, the burden of proof is on the accused to prove they didn't mean something in a hateful way, it will create a legal minefield", he added.
Opposition to the proposals has also been voiced by the comedian, Rowan Atkinson, the homosexual journalist, Matthew Parris , and the homosexual activist, Peter Tatchell .
The Government plans to propose the offence as an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill.
